In February, we acknowledge American Heart Month and the connection between FASD and heart health. 

There are a handful of physical birth defects that can be associated with prenatal alcohol exposure, including vision, hearing, kidney, and bone problems.¹ However, heart defects can be one of the most worrisome for individuals, parents, and medical professionals.  

A significant amount of people with FASD experience issues with their heart development. 50% of individuals with fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) and up to 38% of individuals on the broader FASD spectrum have congenital heart defects (CHD)². We can compare that to about 1% of the general population³.  

Some heart abnormalities may go unnoticed at first, but knowing about prenatal alcohol exposure may help identify heart issues sooner and prevent further health threats. Some individuals with FASD are hyposensitive, meaning that they may not feel or notice physical symptoms of lightheadedness or chest pain unless prompted to check in with their bodies. Some symptoms simply progress as someone ages. 

Evidence shows that some heart complications may not become noticeable until adulthood⁴. While taking care of your heart is healthy for everyone, it may be especially beneficial for people with FASD to prevent later-in-life complications. This could include exercising, drinking water, managing stress, and eating a nutritious diet⁵.  

We must give FASD a seat at the table when discussing heart health. We do not know the proportion of CHDs that can be traced back to prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE), but knowing that someone has PAE can help identify heart health issues before they become a more life-altering problem.  

Holding FASD and heart health in the same conversation can mean getting support and treatment earlier for individuals. It can also mean thousands of dollars saved in later-in-life heart complications for individuals, families, and insurance payers. This conversation is necessary as previously single-issue health topics become more collaborative and interdisciplinary.

1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2023, October 3). Basics about fasds. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/fasd/facts.html#:~:text=Problems%20with%20the%20heart%2C%20kidneys,ridge%20is%20called%20the%20philtrum) 

2. Ninh, V. K., El Hajj, E. C., Mouton, A. J., & Gardner, J. D. (2019). Prenatal Alcohol Exposure Causes Adverse Cardiac Extracellular Matrix Changes and Dysfunction in Neonatal Mice. Cardiovascular toxicology, 19(5), 389–400. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12012-018-09503-8 

3. Center for Disease Control and Prevention (September 19, 2023), CDC.gov, https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/heartdefects/data.html 

4. Ninh, V. K., El Hajj, E. C., Mouton, A. J., & Gardner, J. D. (2019). Prenatal Alcohol Exposure Causes Adverse Cardiac Extracellular Matrix Changes and Dysfunction in Neonatal Mice. Cardiovascular toxicology, 19(5), 389–400. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12012-018-09503-8 

5. World Health Organization, (2023) Keep Your Heart Healthy, https://health.gov/myhealthfinder/health-conditions/heart-health/keep-your-heart-healthy