Congenital heart disease, or a congenital heart defect (CHD) is a problem with the structure of the ticker present at birth, which can affect the heart walls, the heart valves and the blood vessels. There are numerous types of congenital heart defects ranging from simple conditions that do not cause symptoms to complex ones that cause life-threatening symptoms. To diagnose CHDs, doctors use a physical exam and special heart tests. Severe defects are often found during pregnancy or soon after birth with some of the signs and symptoms of severe defects in newborns being rapid breathing, fatigue, poor blood circulation, cyanosis (bluish cast to the skin and mucous membranes). But the good news is treatments and follow-up care for defects have shown to increase chances of survival of nearly all children with heart defects well into adulthood. Many go on to have active and productive lives despite their condition whereas some need continuous care for their heart defect throughout thei...