An anomalous coronary artery (ACA) is a heart defect. This is something your baby is born with (congenital). In ACA, the blood vessels that supply blood to your child’s heart muscle aren’t normal.

Aortic stenosis means that your child has a heart valve that is too narrow or is blocked. The aortic valve is 1 of 4 heart valves that keep blood flowing through the heart. The valves make sure blood flows in only one direction. The ...

Bacterial endocarditis is an infection of the lining of the heart (endocardium), and the heart valves. It does not happen very often, but when it does, it can cause serious heart damage.

Detailed information about double outlet right ventricle (DORV), a heart malformation that is present from birth.

Heart murmurs are extra or unusual sounds made by blood moving through the heart. Many children have heart murmurs. Some cause no problems or go away over time. Others require treatment.

Heart failure is when the heart can't pump enough blood to the body. In children, it is often caused by a congenital heart defect.

Blood pressure is the force of the blood pushing against the artery walls. High blood pressure (hypertension) means that the pressure inside the arteries is too high. This higher pressure may harm the arteries and cause the heart to work...

Hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS) is a group of defects of the heart and large blood vessels. A child is born with this condition (congenital heart defect). It occurs when part of the heart doesn't develop as it should during the ...

Marfan syndrome is a genetic disorder that affects the body's connective tissue. Connective tissue holds the body's cells, organs, and other tissue together. Connective tissue is also important in growth and development.

Pericarditis is inflammation or infection of the pericardium. In children, pericarditis is most likely to happen after surgery to repair heart defects.

Persistent pulmonary hypertension (PPHN) happens in newborn babies. It occurs when a newborn’s circulation changes back to the circulation of a fetus. When this happens, too much blood flow bypasses the baby’s lungs. This is sometimes ...

Rheumatic heart disease is a condition that causes permanent damage to the heart valves.

Tetralogy of Fallot is 4 congenital heart defects. This means that your child is born with them. These 4 problems occur together (tetralogy refers to 4).

Total anomalous pulmonary venous return (TAPVR) is a congenital heart defect. This means that your child is born with it. It happens as the baby’s heart develops during the first 8 weeks of pregnancy.

Tricuspid atresia (TA) is a heart defect present at birth (congenital). It occurs when the tricuspid valve doesn’t form right during fetal heart development. This happens during the first 8 weeks of pregnancy. The tricuspid valve is ...

Aortic valve regurgitation is when a person's aortic valve leaks. The aortic valve is one of the heart's 4 valves. These valves help the blood flow through the heart and out to the body. Normally, the aortic valve stops blood from ...

Atherosclerosis is a type of thickening or hardening of the arteries caused by a buildup of plaque in the inner lining of an artery. It can increase your risk of heart attack, stroke, and other circulatory conditions.

Bicuspid aortic valve is a type of abnormality in the aortic valve in the heart. In bicuspid aortic valve, the valve has only two small parts, called leaflets, instead of the normal three. This condition is present from birth. It often ...

A bundle branch block is an interruption of the electrical pathways inside the wall of the heart. A block in the right bundle branch can occur in people who otherwise seem normal. If it happens with a heart attack, it can be a sign of ...

Cardiac tamponade happens when extra fluid builds up in the space around the heart. This fluid puts pressure on the heart and prevents it from pumping well.

Cardiac sarcoma is a rare type of cancerous tumor that occurs in the heart.

Catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia, or CPVT, is a rare genetic condition. It causes an irregular heart rhythm that can be life threatening. It often shows up in childhood. The first sign is often fainting or near ...

A person with coronary heart disease has an accumulation of fatty deposits in the coronary arteries. These deposits narrow the arteries and can decrease or block the flow of blood to the heart.

Dilated cardiomyopathy, or DCM, is when the heart chambers stretch and become thin. It often starts in the left ventricle. As the disease gets worse, it may spread to the right ventricle and to the atria. As the muscle stretches, it ...

Heart failure is a condition in which the heart cannot pump enough blood to meet the body's needs.

A heart attack happens when the blood supply is cut off from the heart muscle, usually because of a blood clot. Without blood and oxygen, the muscle cells are damaged and die.

Heart murmurs may be caused by a number of factors or diseases, including defective heart valves, fever, and pregnancy.

Heart valves can malfunction on one of two ways: They can fail to close completely, allowing blood to flow backward, or they can become damaged, limiting blood flow.

High blood pressure, or hypertension, increases the risk for coronary heart disease (heart attack) and stroke (brain attack).

Inappropriate sinus tachycardia (IST) is a health problem in which the heart beats very quickly without a good reason. It is a type of heart rhythm abnormality called an arrhythmia.