KING, N.C. — The American Heart Association is promoting American Heart Month to raise awareness about heart disease and health screenings.

What You Need To Know

  • Heart disease is the leading cause of death among women in the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports

  • February is American Heart Month

  • The second week of the month is dedicated to congenital heart disease

Heart defects are the most common birth defects in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The agency reports about 1 out of every 100 babies is born with a congenital heart defect.

Lynsey Alverson said she still remembers receiving the news that her daughter Charley would need surgery for congenital heart disease just hours after her delivery.

“The day she was born was one of the happiest days of my life, but it was also one of the scariest days of my life because you have this precious newborn, and they are immediately taken from you getting ready to prepare for open-heart surgery,” Alverson said. 

Now, she said she shares her experience to help inform parents about additional screenings they can ask for. 

“I think it’s important for women who are pregnant to push for additional screenings to have that additional testing to know if their baby's heart is OK,” she said. 

Feb. 7-14 is Congenital Heart Disease Awareness Week.