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What is a Congenital heart disease - CHD?

Congenital heart disease (CHD) is a structural problem with your heart that exists from birth. These problems, which prevent blood from flowing normally, could be:

  • A hole in the wall of your heart.
  • Your blood vessels may be too numerous or too few, or they may be flowing too slowly, in the wrong direction, or to the wrong location.
  • Issues with the blood-flow-regulating cardiac valves.

What is the Importance of Timely Treatment?

Congenital heart disease (CHD) must be treated immediately to avoid long-term consequences such as heart failure, delayed development, and a lower quality of life.

Early intervention can guarantee normal growth and development, lower the risk of life-threatening illnesses, and enhance heart function.

Additionally, it increases the likelihood of a healthy, active life by preventing irreversible damage to the heart and lungs. The results and general health of people with congestive heart failure can be significantly improved by immediate intervention with surgery, medicine, or other therapies.

What are the Common Symptoms of Congenital Heart Disease - CHD?

Symptoms of congenital cardiac disease may not show up until later in life or may begin as soon as the infant is born. They may consist of:

  • Blue lips, skin, or nails are signs of cyanosis
  • Excessive lethargy
  • Breathing quickly or having difficulty breathing
  • Fatigue (severe exhaustion)
  • Experiencing unusual fatigue or dyspnea while exercising
  • A cardiac murmur is a swishing sound that could be a sign of Irregular blood flow or inadequate blood flow
  • Hammering heartbeat or a weak pulse

Types of Congenital heart disease - CHD

Two primary categories of CHD exist:

  • Cyanotic congenital heart disease is characterised by low blood oxygen levels.
    • Obstructive lesions of the left heart: These lessen blood flow from the heart to the body.
    • Right heart obstructive lesions: These lessen pulmonary blood flow, or blood flow from your heart to your lungs.
    • Mixing lesions: The body combines pulmonary and systemic circulation.
  • Acyanotic congenital heart disease, where the blood oxygen level is adequate.
    • Heart hole: An irregular opening may be in one of your heart's walls. This may be referred to as a ventricular septal defect, patent ductus arteriosus, atrioventricular canal, or atrial septal defect, depending on where the hole is located.
    • Problem with the aorta: The primary artery that transports blood from your heart to the rest of your body is the aorta.
    • Problem with the pulmonary artery: For your lungs to receive oxygen, blood must travel via the pulmonary artery from the right side of your heart. This condition is known as pulmonary artery stenosis if the artery is excessively constricted.

Causes, Risk Factors and Complications of Congenital Heart Disease - CHD

Causes

It may be related to:

  • Having genetic or chromosomal abnormalities that are either inherited or occur at random.
  • Smoking, drinking alcohol, or being around secondhand smoke when pregnant.
  • Taking prescription meds for conditions like high blood pressure, or high cholesterol while pregnant.
  • Having an illness during pregnancy

Risk Factors

Among the risk factors for congenital cardiac abnormalities include:

  • German measles, or rubella.
  • Diabetes.
  • A few medications.
  • Alcohol consumption during pregnancy
  • Smoking
  • Genetics Congenital heart defects appear to run in families, which means they are inherited.

Complications

Possible complications of a congenital heart defect include:

  • Congestive heart failure
  • Infection of the lining of the heart and heart valves, called endocarditis
  • Irregular heartbeats, called arrhythmias
  • Slower growth and development (developmental delays)
  • Stroke
  • Kidney disease
  • Blood clots
  • Pulmonary hypertension
  • Liver disease
  • Speech issues
  • Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
  • Mental health disorders

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Latest Research and Technologies in the Treatment of Congenital heart disease - CHD

  • The goals of current research and technology in the treatment of congenital heart disease (CHD) are to improve surgical techniques, increase early diagnosis, and create less intrusive, more effective treatments.
  • Genetic testing advancements make it possible to identify CHD predispositions and implement individualised preventive measures.
  • Catheter-based therapies and other minimally invasive procedures are becoming more popular since they lower risks and recovery periods.
  • Furthermore, research into new medication aims to enhance heart function while minimising adverse consequences.

Congenital heart disease - CHD Prevention Tips

Here are a few essential tips to follow during pregnancy to avoid Congenital heart disease :

  • Take folic acid now
  • Stay active and engage in exercise
  • Get early prenatal care, even before you're pregnant
  • Avoid smoking and drinking alcohol
  • Obtain the recommended vaccinations
  • Manage your blood sugar levels

Treatment options for congenital heart disease - CHD

Balloon Angioplasty: A balloon-equipped catheter, a minimally invasive technique, is used in balloon angioplasty to unblock constricted or blocked arteries. Children with complicated congenital cardiac problems can benefit from balloon angioplasty.


Cost Start From USD 1800 - USD 3800Explore Options

Heart Transplant: A heart transplant may be required if an advanced congenital cardiac problem cannot be corrected.


Cost Start From USD 55000 - USD 65000Explore Options

Norwood procedure: Children with congenital heart abnormalities (CHD), particularly those with hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS), in which the left side of the heart is undeveloped, are typically treated surgically with the Norwood procedure.


Cost Start From USD 10000 - USD 12000Explore Options

Fontan Procedure: Children with congenital heart disease (CHD), especially those with a single ventricle, a condition in which the heart has only one working pumping chamber, are treated with the Fontan Procedure.


Cost Start From USD 5000 - USD 9000Explore Options

Catheter-based repair: By passing a catheter through a blood artery and guiding it to the heart to implant a device to address the problem, catheter-based repair is a type of treatment for congenital heart disease (CHD), enabling the correction of some cardiac defects without open heart surgery.

Open Heart Surgery: To fix a congenital heart defect, a kid may require open or minimally invasive heart surgery. The particular abnormality in the heart determines the kind of cardiac surgery needed.

Congenital cardiac defects can be diagnosed using the following tests:

Pulse oximetry: A sensor applied to the fingertip measures the blood's oxygen content.

EKG, or electrocardiogram: This brief test captures the heart's electrical activity.

Echocardiogram: Sound waves produce images of the heart in motion. The flow of blood through the heart and its valves is demonstrated via echocardiography.

Chest X-ray: An X-ray of the chest reveals the state of the lungs and heart. It may indicate an enlarged heart or the presence of excess blood or other fluid in the lungs.

Cardiac catheterisation: This procedure can provide comprehensive details about blood flow and heart function.

Heart MRI, also known as a cardiac MRI: Produces finely detailed images of the heart using radio waves and magnetic fields. For the diagnosis and assessment of congenital heart abnormalities in adults and adolescents, a cardiac MRI is often performed

Congenital heart disease (CHD) rehabilitation aims to aid in healing, enhance cardiac function, and advance general health. Essential choices for rehabilitation include:

  • Cardiac rehabilitation: Personalized programs that use education, counselling, and supervised exercise to increase heart health, strength, and tolerance.
  • Physical therapy: It helps patients manage any physical restrictions brought on by CHD or its therapies, regain strength, and increase mobility.
  • Respiratory therapy: Helps improve oxygenation and lung function, mainly if CHD has brought on respiratory problems.

Medicines for congenital heart defects include:

  • Blood pressure medications
  • Water pills, also called diuretics
  • Heart rhythm medications

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Hospitals for congenital heart disease - CHD in India

Apollo Hospital: Top Doctors, and Reviews
Apollo Hospital

Chennai, India

Apollo Hospital located in Chennai, India is accredited by JCI, NABH. Also listed below are some of the most prominent infrastructural details:

  • Committed Centers of Excellence involving many major specialties, super specialties
  • Assistance in trip planning and execution
  • Insurance related assistance
  • Visa facilitation
  • International patient representatives for complete end to end travel and transfer processing for medical travellers
  • Language translators availability
  • Robust safety and infection protocols
  • Personalised, Visa and Premium Health Checks available
  • Health Library and accessing health records online
  • Wide variety of procedures accomplished including complex and critical procedures
  • Technologically advanced systems and procedures in place
  • Research and academics base of healthcare delivery
BGS Gleneagles Global Hospitals: Top Doctors, and Reviews
BGS Gleneagles Global Hospitals

Bangalore, India

Gleneagles BGS Hospital, Kengeri, is a leading healthcare centre in Bengaluru, committed to delivering compassionate, patient-focused care locally and globally. The hospital houses 15 specialised departments with over 30 medical and surgical specialities, supported by 450 beds, advanced emergency services, imaging, laboratory, and transfusion facilities.

It is renowned for pioneering initiatives such as South India’s first 5G-enabled ambulance and Karnataka’s largest Multi-Organ Transplant Program. Recognised among India’s top paediatric cranio-maxillofacial centres, it is also the first in Karnataka to receive the AHPI Award 2024 for “Excellence in Nursing Practices” consecutively.

Indraprastha Apollo Hospital: Top Doctors, and Reviews
Indraprastha Apollo Hospital

Delhi, India

Indraprastha Apollo Hospital is known for delivering treatment to over 200,000 patients every year; 10,000 of which are generally medical tourists. The efficient team of doctors has the record of 99.6 percent success rate. Indraprastha Apollo Hospital deals in treatment of over 50 specialities.  

Let’s see some of the features of the infrastructure:

  • Spread over 15 acres, the hospital has 710 beds.
  • 6 beds dedicated to bone marrow transplant units with very strict infection control practices.
  • 64-Slice Scan coupled with data acquisition which provides highest temporal resolution
  • One of the hospitals to be using Da Vinci Robotics Surgery System
  • In South Asia, the Spect-CT and Pet-CT got their first installation at Indraprastha Apollo Hospital in India
  • Technologies such as PET- MR, BrainLab Navigation System, PET-CT, Portable CT Scanner, Tilting MRI, NovalisTx, Cobalt based HDR Brachytherapy, Hyperbaric Chamber, DSA Lab, Fibroscan, 3 Tesla MRI, Endosonography, 128 Slice CT scanner are all installed at the hospital.
  • The Cancer Institute at Indraprastha Apollo is equipped with a highly advanced Radiation Oncology Center with ClinaciX, NovalisTx, and HDR-Brachytherapy.
  • It is equipped with the largest Sleep Lab in Asia, & has one of the largest Dialysis Units in India.
  • A large number of ICU beds than any other Private Hospitals in India.
  • WIFI is accessible across the whole campus.

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Why Choose India for Congenital Heart Disease - CHD?

Here are some of the reasons for choosing India:

  • Due to advancements in medical facilities, such as minimally invasive surgical techniques.
  • World-class experts include highly experienced doctors, JCI, and NABH-accredited healthcare institutions.
  • Compared to other countries, treatment in Indian hospitals is cost-effective.
  • Indian hospitals provide International patient services, including a multilingual support system.
  • Improved treatment methods and biological therapies.

Frequently Asked Questions

Congenital heart disease patients' outlook is dependent upon the nature and severity of their condition. Many persons with congenital heart disease (CHD) lead long, mostly everyday, and satisfying lives, even though severe cases can be fatal.

Nowadays, 90% of people survive because of improvements in diagnosis and treatment.

Although there isn't a "cure" for congenital heart disease (CHD), most diseases can be controlled or fixed using surgery, catheter-based procedures, medication, or a combination of treatments, which can improve outcomes and quality of life.

It is essential to provide children with emotional support, make sure they see a pediatric cardiologist regularly, and assist them in sticking to any treatment or medication schedules. Providing psychological support and promoting age-appropriate physical activities are also beneficial.

In India, congenital heart disease (CHD) therapy generally has a success rate, especially in reputable hospitals and medical facilities. Success rates for surgery and catheter-based treatments usually fall between 90% and 98%, and many patients have great results. For CHD patients to have successful long-term outcomes, early diagnosis and immediate treatment are essential.

Lifestyle changes may be advised if your child has a congenital heart defect to maintain heart health and avoid problems.

  • Limitations on sports and activities: Exercise and sports participation may need to be reduced for confident kids with congenital heart defects. Many people with congenital heart defects, however, can engage in these kinds of activities.
  • Antibiotics for prevention: Infectious endocarditis, an infection of the heart valves or heart lining, can be made more likely by specific congenital heart abnormalities. Before dental treatments, antibiotics may be advised to prevent infection, particularly in patients with mechanical heart valves.

Yes, standard prenatal ultrasounds or specialised testing like fetal echocardiography can frequently identify congenital heart disease (CHD), especially if there is a family history of heart issues.

Not all CHD cases require surgery. Medication may be used to treat minor problems, but surgery may be needed to address more serious ones.

Author

Dr. Abdullah Rahil
Dr. Abdullah Rahil

MPT (Neuro)

7 Years of Experience

Dr. Abdullah Rahil, M.P.T. (Neurology), is a dedicated physiotherapy professional specializing in orthopedic, neurological, and musculoskeletal rehabilitation. With strong clinical expertise, he focuses on improving patient mobility, reducing pain, and restoring functional independence through evidence-based rehabilitation techniques. He is skilled in advanced therapeutic approaches that support effective rehabilitation and recovery for a wide range of musculoskeletal and neurological conditions, focusing on improving mobility, reducing pain, and restoring functional independence. Dr. Rahil has extensive experience managing diverse rehabilitation cases. His patient-centered approach emphasizes personalized treatment plans, continuous assessment, and comprehensive rehabilitation to achieve optimal recovery outcomes. View More

Reviewer

Dr. Akash Khandelwal
Dr. Akash Khandelwal

Hematologist

9 Years of Experience

Dr. Akash Khandelwal is a distinguished Hematologist, Hemato-oncologist, and Bone Marrow Transplant (BMT) Physician with extensive training from the prestigious AIIMS New Delhi. His expertise encompasses a wide range of specialized techniques in bone marrow transplantation, including autologous and allogeneic transplants such as matched sibling donors, matched unrelated donors (MUD), and haploidentical donor transplants. Dr. Khandelwal has personally supervised and conducted over 100 bone marrow transplants. View More

Last Reviewed - January 2026