Summer is almost officially here and we want to keep you up-to-date with all things heart-related! Our team has had a big focus on Congenital Health Disease (CHD) this last month! Take a look below to learn more about CHD and what we've been working on with all your help!
Congenital Heart Disease: What is it?
Also known as "congenital heart defects," CHD is a range of conditions that occur at birth and affects the shape and function of the heart. There are at least 35 known types of heart defects, ranging from relatively minor to complex, life-threatening conditions. Each of these defects create specific issues in the heart and can result in abnormal blood flow.
Over 1 million adults now live with CHD, which is 3 times more common than muscular dystrophy or childhood cancers. For the first time, more adults are living with congenital heart disease than children. 9 out of 10 children born with a heart defect now survive into adulthood – thanks to advances in surgical techniques and improvements in medical care!
The Impact of Congenital Heart Disease
People living with CHD face ongoing challenges. A congenital heart defect can increase the risk of developing additional heart conditions, including:
Pulmonary hypertension
Arrhythmias
Infective Endocarditis
Anticoagulation
Congestive Heart Failure
People with most types of heart defects need continued and careful monitoring as adults. Many will need additional procedures or medications as adults, and repeat imaging of the heart is often needed. However, according to the Adult Congenital Heart Association (ACHA), only about 10 percent of CHD adults get the recommended care they need. Not only does CHD impact a person's health, there are social, emotional and financial strains for those living with CHD and those who care for them as well.
Earlier this month, members of our Health eHeart team attended a conference on Adult Congenital Heart Disease.
The Adult Congenital Heart Association conference in Orlando, FL was a successful weekend for patients, healthcare providers, and researchers to unite for a common cause. The Health eHeart team was honored to have the opportunity to share the enthusiasm for knowledge, advocacy, and friendship at the 2017 conference.
A great way to help promote awareness of CHD in your area is to join one of the Congenital Heart Walks hosted in multiple cities around the country.
Top Health eHeart News & Highlights
CNET feature of the mRhythm Study, "Tomorrow's Medical Breakthrough? You're Already Wearing It"
We continue to accomplish a lot together.
119,566 participants strong
13,000,905,388 steps captured from connected activity monitors
16 discoveries accepted by top clinical research journals
6 in-progress heart health studies made possible by your participation
Thank you for your support in the fight against heart disease!