Congenital cardiovascular disease is the most common type of congenital malformation. In mild cases, it is asymptomatic and detected during physical examination, while in severe cases, there may be dyspnea, cyanosis and syncope after activity, and growth retardation in older children. Neonatal heart failure is considered an emergency and is usually mostly due to a more severe heart defect in the child. Its clinical manifestations are due to congestion of the pulmonary and body circulations and a decrease in cardiac output. I. How to diagnose congenital heart disease? Your baby’s doctor will do a newborn exam after birth and tell you if your baby has a heart defect. Sometimes, a fetus with a serious heart defect can also be detected during a routine prenatal ultrasound. There are also very few babies with heart defects that are not detected at birth. However, if a child shows such signs, he or she may be less developed than other children of the same age, may catch colds and coughs easily, may become short of breath and shortness of breath at the slightest activity, and may have to squat on the floor for a while. The face can easily appear blue. Some do not usually purple, but after activity and crying appear blue. You should go to the hospital immediately for examination. The doctor will arrange an ultrasound cardiogram for the baby to make a definite diagnosis. Second, how can I prevent my baby from developing congenital heart defects? You should pay special attention when you are preparing to get pregnant: if you are in the medication phase, then go to the hospital and consult with your doctor before you plan to get pregnant. This is because certain medications, such as lithium-containing drugs and anti-spasmodic drugs, can cause congenital heart defects. If you have diabetes, it is very important to control your blood sugar before and between pregnancies. If you have a history of heart disease in your family, then tell your doctor to see if an ultrasound cardiogram is necessary for your fetus. In addition, studies have shown that taking 400 micrograms of folic acid daily before and between pregnancies can prevent up to 50% of congenital heart disease (as well as congenital spina bifida). What is the best age for surgery for congenital heart disease? The best time to treat congenital heart disease should be considered in terms of the child’s ability to adapt to surgery and to cooperate with post-operative treatment, and is generally best at the age of 3-6. However, there are cases that require surgery when the child is less than one year old or even a few months old, which should be decided by the doctor. 4. Is there a high risk of treatment? The risk is determined by the severity of the disease. For example, in some large hospitals, 100% of children with atrial septal defects are treated without major complications. However, for children who undergo surgery to treat a single ventricular defect, only 85 percent survive their childhood, but it is anyone’s guess whether they will grow up and live into adulthood. Some children may also require additional surgery or the insertion of a catheter, and may have to have limited range of motion. In short, there are different kinds of heart disease, and some are prone to other complications, so the risks vary.