What causes congenital heart disease in babies?

Congenital heart disease in infants is mainly caused by genetic factors, environmental influences, abnormal physiological development and certain diseases. Understanding the specific causes of this disease can help prospective parents prevent and reduce the risk as early as possible.

Genetic factors are one of the important causes of congenital heart disease. If there is a similar medical history in the parents or family, the genetic risk of the baby will increase. Pregnant women exposed to adverse environments during pregnancy, such as radioactive substances, harmful chemicals or drugs (such as specific antibiotics, anti-epileptic drugs), will increase the possibility of fetal heart development abnormalities. Furthermore, certain maternal diseases such as diabetes, thyroid dysfunction, and viral infections (such as rubella) can affect heart development during the embryonic period. Nutritional deficiencies in early pregnancy, especially a lack of folic acid and key vitamins, can hinder the normal cardiovascular formation of the fetus. During fetal development, small errors in the genetic replication of the heart's anatomical structure may also cause valve abnormalities, atrial septal or ventricular septal defects, and other problems, which is an important part of the pathogenesis of congenital heart disease.

Genetic factors are one of the important causes of congenital heart disease. If there is a similar medical history in the parents or family, the genetic risk of the baby will increase. Pregnant women exposed to adverse environments during pregnancy, such as radioactive substances, harmful chemicals or drugs (such as specific antibiotics, anti-epileptic drugs), will increase the possibility of fetal heart development abnormalities. Furthermore, certain maternal diseases such as diabetes, thyroid dysfunction, and viral infections (such as rubella) can affect heart development during the embryonic period. Nutritional deficiencies in early pregnancy, especially a lack of folic acid and key vitamins, can hinder the normal cardiovascular formation of the fetus. During fetal development, small errors in the genetic replication of the heart's anatomical structure may also cause valve abnormalities, atrial septal or ventricular septal defects, and other problems, which is an important part of the pathogenesis of congenital heart disease.

For prevention during pregnancy, on the one hand, genetic risks can be identified and avoided through premarital examinations and prenatal genetic counseling; on the other hand, pregnant women are advised to supplement 400-800 micrograms of folic acid daily during pregnancy preparation and early pregnancy, maintain a balanced diet, avoid exposure to polluted environments and harmful drugs; regular prenatal examinations, including ultrasound cardiograms during pregnancy, can help screen for fetal abnormalities at an early stage. Once a baby is diagnosed with congenital heart disease, parents should strictly handle it under the guidance of a doctor, assess the severity of the disease, and choose surgery or interventional treatment if necessary. Common measures include atrial septal repair, ductus arteriosus closure, valvuloplasty repair, etc., to help the child grow up healthily.