1,2 It is estimated that more than two million people in the United States are living with heart defects. Heart defects are the most common type of birth defect, affecting nearly 1% of births – or about 40,000 births – per year in the United States.

How Many People Are Born with Heart Defects? As a person with a heart defect grows and gets older, further heart problems may occur. It is important to note that even with these treatments, many people with heart defects are not cured, as heart defects are lifelong conditions. Some affected people might need one or more surgeries on the heart or blood vessels. Heart defects can vary from mild (such as a small hole in the heart) to severe (such as missing or poorly formed parts of the heart). They can also affect how blood flows through the heart to the rest of the body. Heart defects are present at birth and can affect the structure of a person’s heart and its ability to work properly.

You can also learn what CDC is doing to improve the lives of people with heart defects. Learn about heart defects and about Mary, an adult living with a heart defect. As medical care and treatment have advanced, people with heart defects are living longer and healthier lives, many into adulthood. Congenital heart defects are present at birth and can affect the structure of a person’s heart and its ability to work properly.

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