Congenital heart disease is the form of heart disease that a person is born with. The affects of any form of heart disease can be deadly, but for the person with congenital defects making lifestyle change such as diet and exercise will not prevent or reverse the effects of their form of this disease. Getting diagnosed early in life is the best defense against this kind of heart condition.

Congenital heart disease is an actual defect of the heart or large blood vessels that connect to the heart. This type of defect is something that people are born with. Other forms of heart disease form over time, and in most cases are caused by unhealthy diets and sedentary lifestyles. Most people are diagnosed with a congenital heart defect a week or two after they are born. Considering it is one of the most common birth defects all doctors are trained to recognize the signs and symptoms that a new born infant will present if they have this type of defect.

For the unborn baby this type of defect is not life threatening because they are still using their mother's cardiovascular system, through their attachment to the placenta, to pump blood and nutrients through their own circulatory system. Their heart is beating and there are times that a defect can be seen with an ultrasound but the majority of defects remain undiagnosed until after the baby is born and their own heart takes over.

There are many different forms of congenital heart disease so the treatments for these forms can vary. For some people surgery to fix the defect is recommended, for others prescription medications along with a strict diet and exercise program will keep any problems in check. Anyone with this type of heart problem must follow the advice and program laid out by their cardiologist. Their life depends on it.

For those who suffer from congenital heart disease it is a condition that they will spend their life time fighting. While it is a disease to be wary of with doctors able to detect it early in life those who suffer from it can lead long productive lives. Medical science and technology is constantly making inroads into the treatment of congenital defects and this along with patients who take responsibility for living a healthy life style can effectively manage their condition.

Andrew Bicknell is a writer who researches a wide range of subjects. To learn more about congenital heart disease please visit his website Heart Disease by clicking here.