Acquired heart diseases are conditions affecting the heart and its associated blood vessels that develop during a person’s lifetime, in contrast to congenital heart diseases, which are present at birth.

Differentiate between congenital and acquired diseases. A congenital disorder is a medical condition that is present at the time of birth. The acquired diseases are acquired during the lifetime of an individual and also are not present from birth.

A congenital disorder is a medical condition that is present at or before birth. These conditions, also referred to as birth defects, can be acquired during the fetal stage of development or from the genetic make up of the parents.

Congenital disorders are present from birth, and hereditary disorders are transmitted from parents to their children through the genes.

The 7 Most Common Genetic Disorders

1. Down Syndrome. When the 21st chromosome is copied an extra time in all or some cells, the result is down syndrome – also known as trisomy 21.
2. Cystic Fibrosis.
3. Thalassemia.
4. Sickle Cell Anemia.
5. Huntington’s Disease.
6. Duchenne’s Muscular Dystrophy.
7. Tay-Sachs Disease.

The term “congenital” means that the condition is present at birth but implies it is a developmental abnormality that occurred during the growth of the foetus while in the uterus, rather than a hereditary defect or abnormality.

Medical Definition of congenital 1 : existing at or dating from birth congenital deafness congenital heart disease. 2 : acquired during development in the uterus and not through heredity Our study primarily aimed to find out the birth prevalence of congenital toxoplasma infection in live neonates …—

Genetic conditions Several genetic health conditions that a baby inherits from one or both parents can cause congenital heart disease. It’s also recognised that certain types of congenital heart disease run in families. Down’s syndrome is the most widely-known genetic condition that can cause congenital heart disease.

About 75% of babies born with a critical CHD are expected to survive to one year of age. About 69% of babies born with critical CHDs are expected to survive to 18 years of age. Survival and medical care for babies with critical CHDs are improving.

Under guidelines set forth by the Social Security Administration (SSA), Symptomatic Congenital Heart Disease may qualify a person to receive Social Security Disability benefits.

Is it possible to detect congenital heart defects before birth? Many heart defects can be detected before birth through the use of a special type of sonography called fetal echocardiography. Sound waves are used to create a picture of the baby’s heart.

There is no cure for CHD. Many people have surgeries to repair their heart, however, they are not cured. There may be long-term effects of heart surgery, such as abnormal heartbeats.