Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Week is observed every year beginning on February 7th and ending on February 14th. The purpose of this observance is to promote awareness about congenital heart defects and to work towards finding a cure. Congenital heart defects are some of the most common birth defects, with over 40,000 babies born with these defects every year in the United States.

That means that about 1 out of every 100 babies born in the U.S. is born with a heart defect each year. Unfortunately, research funding has been woefully inadequate over the past few decades, and this week aims to change that.

The History of Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Week

This observance week was first established during the 1960s after U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson declared February to be the first American Heart Month in the U.S. It has been observed ever since to raise awareness about congenital heart defects and to raise funds to find a cure for this condition.

Observing Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Week

Throughout this week, organizations such as The Children’s Heart Foundation and Mended Little Hearts hold events to raise awareness and funds for a cure. These events include marathons, heart walks, charity races, and special exhibitions. There are also national advertising campaigns launched during this week to raise public awareness about this category of health conditions. A category of congenital heart defects includes Atrial Septal Defects, Patent Ductus Arteriosus, and Aortic Valve Stenosis.

Of course, individuals who want to celebrate this week on their own can do so by spreading the word, holding fundraising events, or donating to an organization that is searching for a cure. To spread the word about this observance online, people can use the hashtag #CongenitalHeartDefectAwarenessWeek on social media. It is important to raise awareness about congenital heart defects so that one day we can find a cure.