What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Holes in the
Heart?
Atrial Septal Defect
A
heart
murmur (an extra flow sound associated with the heartbeat) is the most
common sign of an atrial septal defect (ASD). Often, its the only sign.
However, not all murmurs are a sign of a congenital heart defect. Many healthy
children have heart murmurs, which are innocent, normal sounds of blood flow
through the heart. A doctor can tell by listening whether a murmur is a normal
flow sound or a sign of a heart problem. Many babies born with ASDs have no
signs or symptoms.
If a large ASD isnt repaired, the extra blood
flow to the right side of the heart can eventually damage the heart and lungs,
causing
heart
failure. This doesnt occur until adulthood. Signs and symptoms of
heart failure can include:
- Fatigue or tiring easily during exercise or
activity
- Shortness of breath
- A buildup of blood and fluid in the lungs
- A buildup of fluid in the feet, ankles, and
legs
Ventricular Septal Defect
A heart murmur is usually present in ventricular
septal defect (VSD) and may be the first and only sign of this defect. The
heart murmur is often present right after birth in many infants, but it may not
be heard until the baby is 6 to 8 weeks old.
Most newborns who have VSDs dont have
heart-related symptoms. However, a baby with a medium or large VSD can develop
heart failure. Signs and symptoms of heart failure usually appear during the
babys first 2 months of life. The signs and symptoms of heart failure
from VSD are similar to those listed above for ASD, but they occur in
infancy.
The major sign of heart failure is difficulty
feeding and poor growth. VSD symptoms are rare after infancy because the defect
either decreases in size on its own or is repaired. |