Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Week
Raising awareness about a condition that affects many lives, reminding us of the strength within every heartbeat.
Having a healthy heart can make all the difference in a person’s life. Of course being born with a heart defect can significantly reduce that person’s ability to interact with the world around them.
Congenital heart defects occur more frequently than many people know, and yet not much research has been funded into this cause. Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Week hopes to change those perspectives. By informing people about what CHDs are and what they can do to improve those statistics.
How to Celebrate Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Week
Host a Heart-Healthy Potluck
Invite friends for a delightful, heart-healthy potluck. Encourage everyone to bring dishes rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Offer fun facts about heart health as conversation starters. Use heart-shaped decorations to keep the theme alive.
Share Personal Stories
Everyone loves a good story. Collect and share inspiring CHD survivor stories on social media. Use hashtags like #CHDAwareness to reach a wider audience. A powerful story can touch hearts and spread awareness far and wide.
Organize a Charity Run
Plan a local charity run or walk. Gather your community for a fun day of exercise while raising funds for CHD research. Decorate the route with heart-themed signs. Don’t forget to offer heart-shaped medals for participants!
Rock Your Scar
Celebrate scars with pride! Encourage people to share photos of their CHD scars online. Use fun hashtags to join the global conversation. Create a photo contest to engage your community and raise awareness.
Crafty Kids Corner
Host a crafting event for kids. Make heart-themed crafts like cards, decorations, or even small art projects. Display the artwork in local libraries or community centers. It’s a creative way to involve children and educate them about CHD.
Learn About CHD
Congenital heart defects occur when the heart, or blood vessels near the heart, don’t develop normally before birth. While a normal operating heart has healthy valves, chambers, septums, and blood flow. Congenital disabilities may involve any one of those factors to be considered a heart defect, causing low-oxygen blood not to be transferred from the lungs and heart to the rest of the body.
Common heart defects include Aortic Valve Stenosis, Complete Atrioventricular Canal Defect (CAVC), Pulmonary Atresia, and Ventricular Septal Defect (VSD). All have varying degrees of defects that can affect a person’s life.
CHD Awareness Week is crucial for several reasons. Firstly, it helps inform people about the symptoms and signs of congenital heart defects (CHD). Early detection can significantly improve outcomes for those born with CHD. Awareness campaigns also stress the importance of research and funding.
More financial support can lead to advancements in medical treatments and technologies, potentially saving more lives and improving the quality of life for CHD patients.
Additionally, CHD Awareness Week provides support and hope to families. It connects them with others who understand their struggles and triumphs.
By sharing personal stories and experiences, the community can feel less isolated and more empowered. The week also honors the healthcare professionals who work tirelessly to care for CHD patients, recognizing their vital role in improving patient outcomes​.
History of Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Week
Sponsored by the American Heart Association, Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Week encourages people to learn about congenital heart defects. Other organizations, including Mended Hearts and the American College of Cardiology, promote this cause.
The event was first celebrated in 1999, started through the efforts of Jeanne Imperati who wanted to recognize CHD with a dedicated event. She, along with many mothers, pushed for governors to declare February 14 as CHD Awareness Day. Their hard work paid off, and this initiative expanded over the years to include an entire week!
Bringing awareness to these conditions helps people further understand their risk for heart defects. It also helps that people take part in researching about congenital heart defects.
According to the Center for Disease Control, congenital heart defects affect approximately one in 100 births every year in the United States. And an estimated 1.4 million adults in the United States are living with a CHD.
Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Week honors those born with heart defects and recognizes health researchers and those who care for them.
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