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The Heart
Diagnosing and Evaluating Heart Disease in Children
Heart Murmurs
Congestive Heart Failure (CHF)
Congenital Heart Disease
Marfan Syndrome
Rheumatic Heart Disease
Cardiomyopathy
Bacterial Endocarditis
Pericarditis
Kawasaki Disease
Problems Affecting the Coronary Arteries and Blood Vessels
Problems Involving Heart Rhythm
Syncope
Heart Transplantation
Glossary
Online Resources
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Most people only think of middle-aged adults or the elderly as being affected by heart disease. Children are usually thought of as having healthy hearts. Yet, consider these statistics: 
- One out of every 125 to 150 babies born in the United States is born with a congenital heart abnormality.
- Nearly one million people living in the US were born with a congenital heart defect.
- Thirty-six percent of adolescents and young adults who die suddenly have a disease of the heart muscle known as hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.
- About 1.8 million Americans have rheumatic heart disease, an illness which usually strikes in childhood.
- More than 3,000 children a year have an illness that can damage the heart and coronary arteries known as Kawasaki disease. Most of these children are 5 years old and under.
- Risk factors that contribute to coronary artery disease and other cardiovascular diseases (such as smoking, lack of exercise, and high cholesterol levels) often begin at an early age.
- Approximately 4.5 million children, ages 12 to 17, are already smokers.
- Nearly 2,000 children under age 18 become regular, daily smokers every day.
- Nearly half of children ages 12 to 21 do not exercise on a daily basis.
- An estimated 13 percent of American children ages 6 to 11 and 14 percent of adolescents ages 12 to 19 are obese.
- At least 2 percent of children have an inherited tendency towards high cholesterol levels known as familial hyperlipidemia, predisposing them to heart disease as an adult if not treated.
- Cardiovascular disease is a prime cause of death in people under the age of 24.
Some heart problems experienced by children, such as most cases of congenital (present at birth) heart defects, can be treated medically or surgically, but cannot be prevented. However, heart-healthy living habits started at an early age - sensible eating, keeping cholesterol levels low, getting regular exercise, refraining from smoking, and maintaining a healthy weight - greatly diminish the risks of other cardiovascular problems such as stroke, high blood pressure, and coronary artery disease developing in adulthood.
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