Adult congenital heart disease

You’re in the right place for your care of adult congenital heart disease. We created our Adult Congenital Heart Disease Center so our team of cardiologists, cardiothoracic surgeons, electrophysiologists and other experts can work together closely on life-long care that’s specialized for you. And when knowing a heart defect is hereditary, we can screen and treat your family members to help ensure their health and wellness – and peace of mind.

What is adult congenital heart disease?

Congenital heart disease means there is one or more heart defects that existed since birth. You may have been diagnosed when you were a baby, child, teen or adult.

But no matter when you were diagnosed and treated, it’s always best to schedule regular checkups with your doctor to ensure your heart health. You could still develop life-threatening conditions, such as endocarditis, a common heart infection, or even a heart attack or stroke.

Understanding the types of adult congenital heart disease

There are more than 30 types of congenital heart disease. Some of the more common types we treat include:

• Atrial septal defect, where the wall separating the heart’s upper two chambers develops a hole
• Congenital valve disease, in which one or more heart valves doesn’t form correctly
• Patent foramen ovale, a hole in the heart that usually doesn’t cause symptoms or need treatment
• Ventricular septal defect, a hole that develops in the muscle wall between the heart’s lower two chambers

Adult congenital heart disease symptoms

Sometimes congenital heart defects cause no or very few symptoms. That's why you may not even know you have a heart condition until you reach adulthood. You may only learn about it when you’re tested for another condition or begin feeling symptoms. Some of the symptoms you might experience can include:

• Irregular heartbeat, which is called arrhythmia
• Shortness of breath
• Tiring quickly when exercising
• Dizziness or fainting, which is also called syncope
• Bluish color to skin, lips and fingernails

Adult congenital heart disease causes

We aren’t always sure why someone is born with a congenital heart condition. But commonly known causes include:

• Genetics, meaning the condition runs in your family
• An illness your mother may have had while pregnant, such as German measles
• A medication your mother may have taken while pregnant

Adult congenital heart disease diagnosis

Diagnosing congenital heart disease starts with a thorough physical exam. Your doctor may order additional tests for you, too, such as:

• Cardiac catheterization
• Chest X-ray, CT scan or MRI
• Echocardiogram, including transesophageal echocardiogram (TEE)
• Electrocardiogram (EKG)
• Electrophysiology study
• Stress test

Find out more about our heart and vascular testing and diagnosis.

Adult congenital heart disease treatment

Even if you feel like you’re in good health, it’s important to schedule regular checkups with your doctor to monitor or provide follow-up care for congenital heart disease. If your heart needs treatment, your doctor may recommend:

• Medication to help your heart work more effectively, reduce the risk of blood clots or treat an abnormal heartbeat or other condition
• Catheterization, a minimally invasive procedure to repair a defect, such as closing a hole in your heart
• Surgery to implant a pacemaker, defibrillator or other device to keep your heart beating regularly, or thoracic surgery for more complex conditions
• Heart transplant as an option if your congenital heart disease is extremely serious and