Michael Earing, a cardiologist and director of the Adult Congenital Heart Disease Program at Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin appeared on Live at 12:30 to discuss adult congenital heart disease.

As medicine has advanced, most children with a heart defect live into adulthood.

There are an estimated 15,000 to 18,000 adults in Wisconsin with congenital heart disease. More than 1 million adults in the U.S. have a repaired pediatric heart defect and may not be getting follow-up care.

Time, and adult stresses such as pregnancy, can put strain on a repaired heart, requiring specialized care.

Less than 40 physicians in the U.S. are formally trained to care for this unique population.

Parents and caregivers should seek or encourage follow up care for anyone who has had heart surgery as a child.

Click on the links under related content for more information about adult congenital heart disease.