Atrial Septal Defect – A Hole In The Heart

Atrial Septal Defect Signs And Symptoms

Most patients who have atrial septal defect seem healthy and have no symptoms. Usually, a patient with an atrial septal defect grows normally and feels well. Most don’t need to take any medications. Rarely, patients with atrial septal defect may show the following signs:

* fatigue and tiredness during activity
* abnormal heartbeat
* stroke (this is very rare)

If an atrial septal defect isn’t treated in childhood, people with larger atrial septal defect may develop a problem called pulmonary hypertension, which means high blood pressure in the lungs. This occurs because these holes in the septum cause too much blood to flow through the lungs, which gradually damages the lung blood vessels.

If the defect isn’t diagnosed and treated, this blood vessel damage can become permanent, causing the pressure in the lung vessels to rise dangerously.

Fortunately, most patients with atrial septal defect are treated long before the heart defect causes physical symptoms.