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Valentine's Day and hearts are eternally linked. But what most people do not know is that this "heart" holiday has been proclaimed as "Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Day."

Each year, an estimated 1 in 100 babies are born in the United States with a congenital heart defect (CHD). CHDs are the most common birth defect and the number one cause of death from birth defects during infancy. Nearly twice as many children die from congenital heart defects as from all childhood cancers combined, yet research for cancer receives five times the funding. This is due in large part to the lack of awareness most people have about congenital heart defects.

There are so many families out there affected by CHDs. Some have children that have simple defects that may or may not need surgery, while others have children with complex defects that will need to endure several surgeries and years of medicines and doctor visits. And sadly, some will not make it through surgery or even to surgery.

Raising national awareness about Congenital Heart Defects is important on many levels—it will provide hope for families of CHD survivors and comfort to those whose loved ones have lost their battles; it will inform the general public about the symptoms of CHDs and possibly save lives; and it will affirm the need for researchers and medical professionals to continue their work to improve the outlook for CHD patients.

Here are some signs and symptoms to watch for:

*Tires easily during feeding (i.e. falls asleep before feeding finishes
*Sweating around the head, especially during feeding
*Fast breathing when at rest or sleeping
*Pale or bluish skin color
*Poor weight fain
*Sleeps a lot - not playful or curious for any length of time
*Puffy face, hands, and/or feet
*Often irritable, difficult to console

Some children with CHD's may not have any symptoms until later in childhood. Things to look for include:

*Gets out of breath during play
*Difficulty "keeping up" with playmates
*Tires easily/sleeps a lot
*Change in color during active play or sports (looks pale or has a bluish tint around mouth and nose)
*Frequent colds and respiratory illnesses
*Slow growth and weight gain/poor appetite
*Complains of chest pain and/or heart pounding

If your child has two or more of these symptoms, talk to your pediatrician about a referral to a Pediatric Cardiologist. More information can be found at www.tchin.org.

Please take time on February 14 to honor families of children and adults with congenital heart defects and the professionals who work with them, and to help remember the memory of lives lost.

In loving memory of Allison, Noah, Luke, Luke and Ryan.

Posted 14 February 2005 at 10:45 AM