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February is Heart Month - help spread awareness of treatment
You probably have heard that February is Heart Month — but did you know that Congenital Heart Disease (CHD) Awareness Week is February 7 to 14?
One in 100 people are born with a heart defect and need ongoing specialized care. My adult son is one of the nearly 2 million adults requiring lifelong health care from adult congenital cardiologists and specialists in congenital heart disease.
More children born with heart defects — the number one birth defect in the United States — are living to adulthood than ever before due to medical advances. While this is positive news, just a small number of CHD patients (less than 10%) are seen in specialized centers and are getting appropriate and specialized cardiac care.
The Adult Congenital Heart Association (ACHA) is the only national patient advocacy organization dedicated solely to serving these adults living with CHD and the health care community that cares for them. Their mission is to empower our CHD community by advancing access to resources and specialized care to improve patient-centered outcomes.
This month, join me and ACHA in spreading awareness about adults living with CHD and the specialized treatment needed to live a full life. If you or someone you know was born with a heart defect and needs medical care, education, or just someone to talk to, please visit www.achaheart.org to connect and receive the support you need and deserve. Happy Heart Month!
Dubra Karnes-Padilla is an ACHA Patient & Family Advisory Board Member in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
