A DAY FOR HEARTS lets About.com and its network of real, live human guides to take on a humane cause: Promoting Awareness of Congenital Heart Defects (CHD).
Congenital Heart Defects are a lethal constellation of birth defects of the heart that affect millions of newborn infants and children worldwide; a killer that claims thousands of lives every year. Eight of every 1000 children born alive (0.8%) will have some form of heart defect.
On this special day, February 14th, A DAY FOR HEARTS, a concerted global effort is being made to highten awareness of this deadly group of diseases. We at About.com have come together to offer information, resources and support to those whose lives have been touched by Congenital Heart Defects.
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Congenital Heart Defects cause one or more portions of the heart to develop abnormally. Absent, narrow or leaky heart valves and blood vessels, holes in the walls between chambers, transposed arteries and under-development or total absence of one or more components are all possible.
* Heart Failure: breathless, sweaty, irritable child
* Heart Murmur: on medical exam
* Arrhythmias: rhythm problems
* Rarely none !
* 32,000 babies with CHD every year in the U.S. alone
* Atleast 35 distinct forms recognized
* About 1 million Americans with CHD alive today
* Mortality from CHD is decreasing
* But CHD incidence has not declined.
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* CHD in General
* Specific CHDs
* Surgery for CHD
* Parenting Chat
* Education
* Share Your Grief
* Pregnancy
* Bereavement
* Depression
What ? Learn About CHD
CHD : An Overview
About.com Guide to Heart Disease, Dr.Sivasubramanian, gives you a bird's eye view of the problem of CHD.
The Types of CHD
A categorized listing of the different kinds of CHD with links to explanatory articles on each, from your Cardiology Guide.
Why ? Causes of CHD
What is responsible for CHD ?
A look at the factors that might be responsible for congenital heart defects.
Congenital Rubella Syndrome Have a Heart: If you're pregnant, don't drink Drugs Burn Young Hearts It's in the Genes Nursing care for the child with CHD Medical management of a CHD child The CHD - Thyroid Connection In Utero Diagnosis of CHD Timing CHD Surgery Operations for CHD Through the Keyhole - MICS CHD Support Groups Bereavement Support For Parents Caregivers' Hearts Need Special Care Too Sleeping with CHD
The Teacher's Role in CHD
Heart to Heart Heart Healthy Eating Exercising with CHF The idea of a CHD Awareness Day Special caught the essence of the spirit behind About.com, this vibrant network of human Guides. Although not directly connected with the Health Channel, many Guides offered their enthusiastic support to promoting CHD awareness within their unique niches.
Here are some examples:
A 'Delawarean' Day For Hearts Springfield Hearts From the Hearts of Oklahoma City Techno-Valley Has A Heart Knoxville's CHD Special Heart of the Matter
German measles during pregnancy can affect the fetus, causing a cluster of anomalies including CHD. About.com Deafness Guide, Jamie Berke, has the details.
Many of the symptoms of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome are irreversible and can cause a lifetime of suffering for the victims. Take the advice of About.com Guide to Alcoholism, Buddy T - To be on the safe side, if you are pregnant, don't drink.
Drug abuse causes a variety of heart disorders including heart attacks and aneurysms in young people, sometimes ending in death. About.com Guide to Substance Abuse, Michael Petracca, covers this dangerous relationship.
Genes and chromosomes have been identified to be responsible for atleast some forms of CHD. An update of this research in progress, from About.com Guide to Heart Disease, Dr.Sivasubramanian.
How ? Treating CHD
Nurses have the most diverse role in the care of the child with CHD. Join About.com Guide to Nursing, Erika Lowndes, as she explores it in detail.
Medical and surgical advances allow many children affected with CHD to survive into adulthood. Inspired by Valentine’s Day and the concerns of those who care for children with CHD, About.com Guide to Pediatrics, Ann McNeil, has gathered information for you.
Some thyroid problems can be associated with CHD. About.com Guide to Thyroid Disorders, Mary Shomon, takes a look at the important thyroid disorder/heart disease connection for
infants and children.
Fetal echocardiography has revolutionized the area of CHD, allowing earlier and increasingly more accurate detection of heart defects inside the womb. About.com Guide to Pregnancy, Robin Weiss, writes about this exciting area of CHD diagnosis.
When ? CHD Surgery
The complex spectrum of CHD makes the timing of surgical treatment an individualized decision. About.com Guide to Surgery, Dr.Sivakumari, discusses some of the general principles involved.
A list of informative resources on the various kinds of surgical procedures performed for birth defects of the heart.
As technology gets bigger, surgical incisions become smaller. Some forms of CHD can be treated by Minimally Invasive Cardiac Surgery (MICS) techniques.
Help ! Support for CHD
CHD affects not only patients, but entire families. Along the winding, tortuous road ahead, with major surgery and continuing medical care looming, most families need a helping hand, a friendly shoulder to cry on and peers they can count on for support and encouragement in difficult times. Here is a list of some wonderful resources to find such assistance.
The Children's Information Network offers resources on loss, and gives parents a method to communicate by e-mail and chat with others who have lost children to Congenital Heart Disease. About.com Guide to Dying, Trudy Weathersby, writes about coping with the terrible loss.
Parenting a Child with CHD
When a child is born with a heart defect, parents may feel many deep
emotions including grief, shock, denial, guilt, anger, despair or confusion. Here are some resources to help heal the broken hearts of those who care for CHD children, from your About.com Guide to Depression.
Childhood sleep disorders are always frightening. The threat is much worse if congenital heart disease is a factor. About.com Guide to Sleep Disorders, Florence Cardinal, looks deeper into the issue.
Teachers care for the total health of their students - mental, spiritual, and physical. About.com Guide to Elementary School Educators, Beth Lewis, has a lot to say on this.
Parents, siblings, and family members need information, resources, and most importantly support, when caring for a child with special needs. About.com Guide to Parenting Special Needs is there for you, to help your family!
Adults With CHD
Children and adults with CHD alike must be careful of what they eat. About.com Guide to Nutrition, Rick Hall, has some helpful resources on heart healthy eating.
Some older CHD patients might have cardiac failure. Can they continue with normal activity, sports and exercise ? About.com Guide to Sports Medicine, Elizabeth Quinn, analyses the issue.
CHD : Around About
About.com Guide to Wilmington/Newark, Delaware - Jeannine Lahey - has spotlighted a feature on how Delawareans can petition their Governor for support to the CHD Day event.
To About.com Guide to Springfield, IL - Pamela Olson - CHD has a special, and more personal, meaning.
This is fantastic. Literally on the way to the labor room, About.com Guide to Oklahoma City - Lisa Coker - uploaded her article on CHD Awareness Day.
To demonstrate that it has a human face in addition to its technological one, About.com Guide to Silicon Valley, Servane Briand, has a feature on CHD Awareness Day.
According to the March of Dimes, "one out of every 125-150 children are born with heart defects... making them the leading cause of birth defect-related deaths." About.com Guide to Knoxville, Tennessee - Melany Noltenius - shows what you can do to help children with CHD.
About.com Guide to Jacksonville, JoAnne Young, contacted the Jacksonville Heart Association and has some information and facts about CHD, provides links to local doctors who treat the disease and some more local info.
* Jeanne Imperati
* Mona Barmash
* Tricia Christensen
* Volunteers and Families in Online CHD Support groups at CHIN
Dr.Mani Sivasubramanian
with co-operation and assistance from About.com's family of expert Guides.
Here's a SPECIAL Valentine Day card you can send your friend.
Show your love, and spread the word about CHD Awareness Day at once.