Show Congenital Heart Defects Defects' Take Toke Variety Of Forms Congenital Inborn heart defects defects de de- de result from failure of th the infants infant's heart or of a ma major jo bl blood od vessel near the heart to develop normally during the period of growth before birth TilE THE malformations m may a y take many forms for example there may be a hole in a a wall wal between two chambers of the heart an open passageway between between be be- tween two vessels which should not be connected or an abnormal abnormal abnormal ab ab- ab- ab normal narrowing of a blood vessel Less than 1 I per cent of chil chi dren born in this country have congenital heart defects but that small percentage accounts for to children born with this type of heart ailment ailment ail ail ail- ment each year SOMETIMES the newborns newborn's heart is so defective that he can live only a few minutes s or ora ora ora a few months Sometimes the defect detect is so slight that it causes causes causes caus caus- es es no trouble during a long life life- time Most children with heart defects do survive infancy but butor for or some of them the impaired circulation can be a major physical ha handicap ap The heart may hav have to overwork to supply supply supply sup sup- ply the body with the blood it peeds eeds the childs child's growth may 1 bestowed slowed and his physical ac- ac limited r Although there Is evidence that drugs taken or infections contracted during the early months months of pregnancy sometimes sometimes sometimes some some- times cause congenital defects in the vast majority of cases the cause of congenital defects has not yet been determined THE TilE UTAH Heart Association Association Association tion has a booklet entitled Heart Disease in Children which may be obtained free by calling the state office in Salt Lake City This book explains congenital defects their diagnosis diagnosis and some phases of Jf treat- treat congenital defects their diagnosis and some phases of treat ment merit and a chapter on rheumatic rheumatic rheu rheu- rheumatic matic fever and rheumatic heart disease There is also a section on problems common to children with a history of rheumatic fever or congenital heart disease This deals with convalescence continued medical medical medi medi- cal care returning to school and play planning for the fu future future fu- fu ture lure and help from government government govern govern- ment merit agencies For advice about your heart ask your doctor for information tion ask your Heart tion lion |