Understanding Dextrocardia, a Rare Heart Condition That Late Actress Catherine O’Hara Had

Beloved Canadian actress Catherine O’Hara, famed for her roles in Beetlejuice, Home Alone and the hit series Schitt’s Creek, passed away at the age of 71 on January 30, 2026 after a brief illness, according to reports. While the formal cause of death has not been disclosed, fans and observers revisited a rare medical condition O’Hara had openly discussed in earlier interviews- dextrocardia with situs inversus, a congenital anomaly in which the heart and other internal organs are reversed or mirrored from their usual positions.

Most of us grow up knowing that the heart sits on the left side of the chest. It is something we rarely think about until we hear that someone’s heart is different. For a small number of people the heart is placed on the right side. This condition is called dextrocardia and while it sounds unusual it is often harmless.

Many people discover they have dextrocardia by chance. A routine chest X-ray, a health check up or a scan for an unrelated issue may lead to the surprising news that the heart is on the right. It can be scary at first, but most of the time there is no need to panic.

What is Dextrocardia?

Dr Deebanshu Gupta, Interventional Cardiologist at Sarvodya Hospital, Jalandhar explains, “Dextrocardia is a birth defect that causes the heart to grow on the right side of the chest instead of the left. This happens very early in pregnancy, when the baby's organs are still growing.The heart itself is usually normal in structure and function. It is simply positioned differently.”

Because the heart works well many people with dextrocardia have no symptoms at all. Some live their whole lives without knowing about this disease.

Also Read: Born with a Heart Defect: Why Some Newborns Need Life-Saving Surgery Within Days of Birth

Types of Dextrocardia

The condition often occurs in two main forms:

• Isolated Dextrocardia: Only the heart is mirrored, while other organs remain in their usual positions. This form may not cause symptoms and sometimes goes unnoticed without imaging or specific tests.
• Dextrocardia with Situs Inversus: Both the heart and other major organs like the liver, spleen and lungs are reversed from their typical anatomical arrangement, as was the case with O’Hara.

Situs inversus is rare, estimated to occur in about 1 in every 10,000–12,000 people.

Occurrence of Dextrocardia

According to John Hopkins Medicine, Dextrocardia is uncommon. It affects about one in every ten thousand to twelve thousand people. Since many have no symptoms the condition often goes undiagnosed.

Symptoms Associated with Dextrocardia

Dextrocardia alone usually does not cause discomfort or limit activity. People with healthy hearts can exercise, work and live normally. Symptoms appear only if there are associated heart problems. These may include:

• breathlessness
• bluish lips
• fingers fatigue
• feeding difficulties in infants

These signs relate to heart function rather than position.

Because the anatomy is mirrored, doctors often need to interpret imaging and medical tests differently in patients with this condition, and it’s important for individuals to share their diagnosis with healthcare providers.

Also Read: Living with a Hole in the Heart: The Reality of Congenital Heart Defects in Adults

How Is Dextrocardia Diagnosed?

Many people with dextrocardia have no health problems related to it, and the condition might only be discovered incidentally during imaging studies such as a chest X-ray, ECG, or CT scan for unrelated reasons. In O’Hara’s case, she found out during a routine physical exam where an ECG raised questions that led to further tests.

According to Dr Gupta, “For most people dextrocardia is not a disease. It is simply a variation of the human body. Informing doctors is usually the only step needed. Being different does not always mean being unwell. Sometimes it just means being unique.”

Living With Dextrocardia

Many people with dextrocardia and situs inversus lead healthy, normal lives, free of serious symptoms, unless other cardiac anomalies are present. Regular health check-ups and awareness of one’s unique anatomy are key to avoiding misdiagnoses or confusion during medical evaluations.