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Arrhythmia (Abnormal or Irregular Heart Beat) Normally, the heart muscle squeezes and relaxes in a steady, predictable pattern, controlled by electrical signals. When something goes wrong with the heart’s electrical system, the heart may feel like it’s beating too fast (sinus tachycardia), too slow (bradycardia), or out of

Atrial Septal Defect (ASD) An atrial septal defect (ASD) is a hole between the upper chambers (atria) of the heart. The most common is called an ostium secundum ASD, located in the center of the wall separating the atria. Depending on an ASD’s size and location, it can allow blood to mix between the atria

Atrioventricular Canal Defect (Atrioventricular Septal Defect) An atrioventricular canal defect (also known as an atrioventricular septal defect, or an AV canal defect or AV septal defect) is a condition that develops before birth, when the central area of a baby’s heart doesn’t form properly during pregnancy. With this condition, the wall

Cardiomyopathy Cardiomyopathy is a disease that weakens and enlarges the heart muscle, making it harder for the heart to pump blood to the rest of the body. It can disrupt the heart’s rhythm, and cause extra fluid to build up around the lungs and body. There are several different types of

Congenital Heart Defects (CHD) Most of the conditions in this list are congenital heart defects – a heart problem that a baby is born with. They’re sometimes referred to as congenital heart disorders, or birth defects.

Double Outlet Right Ventricle (DORV) Usually, the aorta is attached to the left side of the heart, and another artery called the pulmonary artery is attached to the right. This allows blood to flow through the lungs to receive oxygen, and then for that “oxygen-rich” blood to flow through the rest of the body. But in

Ebstein Anomaly Ebstein anomaly is a birth defect that affects the tricuspid valve, which connects the heart’s right chambers and helps control how blood moves through the heart. Normally, blood flows through the tricuspid valve on its way from the heart’s upper right chamber to the lower right

Heart Tumors (Cardiac Tumors) A heart tumor, also known as a cardiac tumor, is an abnormal growth in the heart. It can develop almost anywhere in the heart: inside one of the heart’s chambers, in the outside wall, or in the heart muscle itself. Heart tumors are rare in children. Most are noncancerous (benign)

Heterotaxy Syndrome (Isomerism) Heterotaxy syndrome, also known as isomerism, is a rare disorder that affects where organs are located in the body. During pregnancy, a baby’s heart may develop in the right side of the chest instead of the left. Other organs like the lungs, stomach, liver and spleen may form in

Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome (HLHS) Hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS) is a rare birth condition that affects the left side of the heart. It’s one of the most complex heart problems seen in newborns. With HLHS, the heart’s left-sided valves (the aortic valve and the mitral valve) are either too small or didn’t

Myocarditis Myocarditis is a condition that causes inflammation in the muscles of the heart, the myocardium. As a result of illness or a bad reaction to a chemical, the myocardium becomes swollen, or inflamed, which makes it harder for the heart to pump blood. This can also disrupt the heart

Patent Ductus Arteriosus (PDA) Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) is a rare birth condition that affects the flow of blood around the heart and lungs. During pregnancy, while a baby is still in the mother’s womb, a blood vessel called the ductus arteriosus connects the heart’s two main arteries. Once the baby is

Pulmonary Atresia (Tetralogy of Fallot) Pulmonary atresia affects the pulmonary valve, a part of the heart that controls how blood is pumped to the lungs. Normally, blood flows through the pulmonary valve on its way from the heart to the lungs, where it receives oxygen before it’s pumped to the rest of the body. But in

Pulmonary Hypertension Pulmonary hypertension is a type of high blood pressure that affects the lungs and heart. There are a few different kinds of pulmonary hypertension: For example, pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) involves problems in the lung’s blood vessels. Pulmonary hypertension caused by

Pulmonary Valve Stenosis (Tetralogy of Fallot) Pulmonary valve stenosis (also known simply as pulmonary stenosis) is a condition that affects the pulmonary valve, which connects the heart’s lower right chamber to the lungs. Blood flows through the pulmonary valve on its way to the lungs, where it receives oxygen before it’s