Understanding Congenital Heart Disease

At CardioVascular Health Clinic, your heart health matters to us. 

If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with a heart defect at birth and are experiencing new or worsening symptoms consistent with congenital heart disease, don’t delay care, we are here to help you feel your best.

Let’s discuss congenital heart disease in more detail, including what it is, common symptoms, and effective treatment options fit for you.

What is Congenital Heart Disease?

Congenital heart disease is an umbrella term for heart defects that develop in utero. 

Defects can range from simple abnormalities that cause no symptoms to complex defects that can become life-threatening. 

The most common defects affect blood flow through the heart.

Congenital heart defects identified and treated at birth or during childhood can reappear later into adulthood. 

When defects reappear, it often indicates that existing problems may have worsened, the repair may not have fully resolved the issue, or complications from earlier surgeries have begun to form.

Causes 

There is no one cause of congenital heart disease.

Congenital heart defects begin in the womb and can develop for various reasons, both hereditary and environmental. However, identifying a specific cause is often difficult, even when a specific type of defect is present. 

Risk factors may include:

• genetic predisposition
• certain medications the mother takes
• mothers smoking while pregnant

Symptoms of Congenital Heart Disease

Some congenital heart defects present no signs or symptoms or may not become apparent until well into adulthood. 

Symptoms of congenital heart disease in adults can include

• Arrhythmias (abnormal heartbeat)
• Cyanosis (skin with a bluish tint)
• Shortness of breath
• Edema (swelling of body tissue or organs)
• Quick to tire after exertion

If you were diagnosed with or treated for a congenital heart defect in early childhood, take extra care to monitor any worsening symptoms. If you were not diagnosed with one but are experiencing any of these symptoms, we encourage you to seek medical help from cardiovascular experts for a proper diagnosis and a personalized care plan.

Congenital Heart Disease Treatment

Though many congenital heart defects can be identified before birth, they often require life-long care and monitoring. 

If left untreated, they can develop into arrhythmias, congestive heart failure, pulmonary hypertension, or heart infection, and increase your risk of stroke.

When you visit, one of our experienced doctors will conduct various tests to determine the exact nature of your heart defect. 

Depending on the severity and risk, treatment can range anywhere from watchful waiting and medication to implantable heart devices, open-heart surgery, and, in extreme cases, a heart transplant.

Even if you feel you have outgrown or resolved a congenital heart defect, follow-up care, and routine exams are still vitally important because you are still at risk for developing complications. 

Be sure to disclose any previous conditions or defects to all of your medical providers to minimize the risk of exacerbating any problems.

CardioVascular Health Clinic boasts a dedicated team of qualified specialists whose sole focus is your heart’s health. 

With decades of combined experience, state-of-the-art technology, and a comprehensive approach to patient care, our physicians can offer Oklahomans unparalleled cardiovascular services every day. 

Congenital heart disease can hide in plain sight. If you were diagnosed with congenital heart disease, or suspect you or a loved one may be suffering from a defect, call CardioVascular Health Clinic today at (405) 701-9880 to schedule an appointment now.