A congenital heart defect is a heart problem that has been present since before birth. Other terms used to describe this condition include congenital heart disease and congenital cardiovascular disease. Congenital heart defects occur in just under one out of every 100 births.

There are many different types of congenital heart defects. Some of the more common types are listed below.

• Aortic stenosis
• Atrial septal defect
• Atrioventricular septal defect
• Patent ductus arteriosus
• Septal defects
• Tetralogy of fallot
• Ventricular septal defect

• Atrial septal defect repair in children - open heart surgery
• Atrial septal defect repair in children - transcatheter procedure
• Cardiac catheterization
• Chest x-ray
• Echocardiogram
• Electrocardiogram (EKG, ECG)
• Heart valve replacement
• MRI
• Robot-assisted cardiac procedures

Your heart health: what family history tells you

Your mother has cardiovascular disease, and your nephew was recently diagnosed with a congenital heart defect. Whether it's a heart defect that has been present since birth, or heart disease that develops later in life, heart-related conditions often run in the family.

Guidelines for children’s heart health

The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute offers guidelines to help keep your child's heart healthy. Learn what lifestyle changes can help protect your child from cardiovascular disease.

The dangers of drinking for two: alcohol and birth defects

Drinking alcohol during pregnancy can put your baby at risk for a variety of birth defects. Since there is no known safe amount of alcohol during pregnancy, it is best to abstain entirely.

• Aortic aneurysm
• Aortic coarctation
• Aortic insufficiency
• Aortic regurgitation
• Arrhythmias
• Atrial fibrillation
• Bacterial endocarditis
• Bradycardia
• Congenital rubella syndrome
• Congestive heart failure
• DiGeorge syndrome
• Endocarditis
• Heart murmur
• Mitral stenosis - adult
• Mitral valve prolapse
• Pericarditis
• Tricuspid valve disease