Treating your heart condition.
At least one out of every 125 babies born each year has a heart condition. About half of these babies have a minor ailment and will not need any treatment. The rest will require medical treatment or surgery.
However, not all conditions are discovered in early life. And, regardless of when a diagnosis is made, many CHD patients will need treatment and surgery into adulthood.
Furthermore, some people may need more than one heart operation. For example, if an artificial valve or plastic tube is inserted into the heart as a child, this will need replacing as they outgrow it. This can occur several times. Sometimes just ageing and growth can reduce the effectiveness of the first surgery.
If you are an adult living with a heart defect, you should have access to a cardiologist regularly throughout your life. This is necessary to talk about treatments, medicines, and the ongoing and long-term care of your specific condition. And so you can make the best possible choices for your health.