Causes of Congenital Heart Defects (CHD)
Congenital means “present from birth”. Congenital heart diseases happen due to the abnormal formation of the baby’s heart while the baby is in the mother’s womb.
In the majority of situations, there is no particular reason why congenital heart defects happen. They are considered to be the result of many factors. Some factors cannot be changed like genes that are passed on in the family. Genes are units of heredity which are passed from parents to children biologically. Although genetic factors can cause heart defects, only a few genes have been directly linked to congenital heart disease so far.
Some other factors that can be modified are environmental factors. For example, exposure to alcohol, infections, medications, and chemicals can be controlled by the pregnant mother. It is best not to drink alcohol during pregnancy, only take medications after checking with your doctor and as far as possible avoid getting infected by illness causing germs.
DNA strand which contains genetic information
