Adult congenital heart disease is a heart or blood vessel defect present since birth, affecting up to 10 in 1,000 babies. Symptoms and severity vary, and diagnosis includes physical exams and diagnostic tests. Treatment depends on the specific defect and its severity, ranging from medication to surgery.
Adult congenital heart disease means that an adult has a defect involving their heart or blood vessels that has been present since birth. Essentially, when an adult has congenital heart disease, it means that she has a heart-related birth defect but has reached adulthood. According to scientific research, up to 10 in 1,000 babies are born with heart-related birth defects. Often, these birth defects cause symptoms in an individual while they are still a baby or during their infancy or adolescence, but this is not always the case. Instead, some people have no symptoms or are diagnosed until they are adults.
When a person has adult congenital heart disease, this does not mean they have a heart problem that somehow developed during their adulthood. Instead, it means that he was born with a birth defect that was present during his infancy and adolescence and persisted into his adulthood. The effects of adult congenital heart disease can vary from person to person, and some people are not diagnosed until adulthood. The severity of the heart or blood vessel defect can also vary. In some cases, it can be serious enough to require treatment, but in other cases, the effects are mild and doctors may determine that the affected person does not need treatment.
The symptoms a person has with adult congenital heart disease will depend on their unique case and the specific type of heart defect they were born with. Common symptoms, however, often include shortness of breath, fatigue, and difficulty tolerating exercise. Some people never develop any symptoms, while others may have mild, moderate, or severe symptoms.
Diagnosing adult congenital heart disease often includes a physical exam, evaluating symptoms, listening to the patient’s heartbeat, and performing a variety of diagnostic tests. Such tests often include electrocardiograms, which use sound waves to evaluate the condition of the heart, and intravascular ultrasounds, which use sound waves to evaluate the condition of the arteries. Other tests may include chest X-rays or even cardiac catheterization, which involves taking pictures of the heart from inside the body.
When a person needs treatment for adult congenital heart disease, the type of treatment will depend on their specific defect and its level of severity. Sometimes medications help with such conditions, but some patients may need more invasive procedures. Also, surgery is warranted in some cases.
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