About Congenital Heart Defects

Father kissing baby's foot

The word “congenital” means existing at birth. The terms “congenital heart defect” and “congenital heart disease” are often used to mean the same thing, but “defect” is more accurate.

This kind of heart ailment is a defect or abnormality, not a disease. A congenital heart defect (CHD) results when the heart, or blood vessels near the heart, don’t develop normally before birth.

Your health care team can be a vital source of information. You can also turn to the following resources to learn about the different types of congenital heart defects, testing that can aid in diagnosis and treatment options:

Written by American Heart Association editorial staff and reviewed by science and medicine advisers. See our editorial policies and staff.

Last Reviewed: May 14, 2018