Congenital heart defects occur in children for a variety of reasons. If there is a family history of congenital heart disease, the child is more likely to have a defect. The actual and direct causes have not yet been established precisely, but it is known that pollutants, medicines that the mother takes, diseases such as diabetes and even minor infections, among others, have an influence.

The influence of factors is greatest between the 3rd and 8th week of fetal life, when all the internal organs, including the heart, are formed. This is when defects develop. Therefore, it is worth paying attention to the mother's environment, the medicines she is taking and not to underestimate infections. At this time, it is also recommended to take folic acid, which has an effect on the child's forming internal organs.

It is advisable to monitor the development of the foetus during these first weeks of pregnancy through prenatal tests. The examination makes it possible to recognise whether the baby is healthy - and if not, it helps to detect the type of defect or disease. An accurate diagnosis makes it possible to carry out treatment immediately after the birth of the baby, and often even while the baby is still in the womb. This significantly increases the chances of successful treatment. Carrying out tests also helps to prepare the parents - they already know whether the birth should take place in a specialised centre, they can also think about the child's future and mentally set themselves up for the difficulties ahead.

Today, thanks to advances in cardiac surgery, it is possible to save children with very complex heart defects. The success of surgical interventions largely depends on the period of the child's development when the defect was diagnosed - the earlier, the better! The choice of specialist centre is also important.

Poland is one of the leaders in the field of paediatric cardiac surgery in the world ," says Katarzyna Parafianowicz from the Dina Radziwiłł Children's Heart Foundation, which supports children with heart defects and their parents. -However, there are situations when saving a child becomes impossible, and doctors somehow 'clash' with reality: bureaucracy or the lack of often small amounts of money for the purchase of necessary equipment to save children's lives. We have excellent doctors in Poland - we just need to use our potential.

The Foundation is trying to make the problem more widely known, to get people interested in it so that a change for the better is possible. Thanks to this, more and more children with congenital heart defects will have a chance for a healthy, normal life,' adds Katarzyna Parafianowicz.