Common congenital heart defects

Congenital heart defects are heart problems that develop before birth. They can occur in the heart's chambers, valves or blood vessels. A baby may be born with only one defect or several defects. Of the dozens of heart defects, some are mild and may need little or no medical treatment even through adulthood. Other types of congenital heart defects are life-threatening, either immediately to the newborn or over time. Here's a look at some of the more common congenital heart defects. Compare them to the normal human heart, shown here.