Adults with congenital heart disease need specialized care
Not all heart problems develop as you age. Some, known as congenital heart disease or congenital heart defects, are present at birth. These birth defects affect the heart walls, valves or major blood vessels and can disrupt how blood flows through the heart to the rest of the body. As a result, some people with congenital heart disease can develop other heart conditions, such as congestive heart failure or arrhythmia.
If you have congenital heart disease, treatment depends on what type of defect you have and how it affects your health and quality of life. Regular visits with a cardiologist can help identify any changes in your condition and ensure you receive the care you need to thrive.
Types of congenital heart disease
There are many types of congenital heart disease. Some of the more common forms include:
Heart valve defects
Heart valve defects, also known as valvular heart disease, are flaws in the valves of the heart.
Your heart has four valves with flaps that open and close to help blood flow in a one-way course through the organ. The aortic valve, for example, has three flaps that allow blood to pass from the heart’s left ventricle into the aorta, a major artery that takes blood to the rest of the body. If you were born with a form of congenital heart disease called a bicuspid aortic valve, you have two flaps instead of three.
A bicuspid aortic valve can lead to aortic stenosis, which is when the valve is narrow or stiff. This forces the heart to work harder to pump enough blood. Aortic stenosis can cause shortness of breath during physical activity, lightheadedness and chest pain. A two-flap valve can also allow blood to leak backward into the ventricle, called regurgitation.
Congenital heart disease symptoms
Symptoms of congenital heart disease can often include:
- Swelling, such as in the feet, ankles or hands
- Shortness of breath
- Fluid retention
- Irregular heart rhythms or palpitations
- Dizziness
- Bluish fingernails, lips or skin
What causes congenital heart disease?
The most common type of birth defect, congenital heart disease, occurs when a baby’s heart doesn’t develop properly during pregnancy. Doctors don’t always know why some babies’ hearts form defects, although genetic changes, some of which can pass from parent to child, may contribute.
Risk factors for having a baby with congenital heart disease include:
- Family history of congenital heart defects
- Certain medications
- Diabetes and other health conditions, such as rubella (German measles)
- Certain genetic disorders
- Alcohol use or smoking during pregnancy
Diagnosing a congenital heart disease
Some people with congenital heart disease are diagnosed as babies or children. Many people, however, don’t learn they have a heart defect until they’re adults.
If your physician suspects a heart defect, they’ll start by asking you about your health history. They’ll also perform a physical exam to check for symptoms of congenital heart disease, such as abnormal heart rhythms or murmurs.
If your physician suspects genetics could play a role in your diagnosis, they may recommend genetic testing to find out whether a gene mutation could be the cause.
To gather more information, your physician may order tests, such as:
Electrocardiogram
An electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG) tracks the electrical signals in the heart to monitor its health and functionality.
Treatment for congenital heart disease
No two cases of congenital heart disease are alike. Your heart and vascular team will create a treatment plan just for you.
If you have a mild form of congenital heart disease, you may not need treatment. Instead, your cardiologist may recommend regular checkups to ensure your heart functions well and symptoms aren’t affecting your quality of life.
No matter what your treatment plan entails, it’s important to follow it closely. Take your medications as prescribed and don’t stop or start medicine without talking to your physician. Keep all checkup appointments so your healthcare provider can track how your treatment plan is working. Make healthy lifestyle changes to help protect your heart and complement your treatment. Finally, if you notice any new or worsening symptoms, tell your physician right away so you can work together to address them.
If you have concerning symptoms or the heart defect poses a risk to your health, a variety of treatments are available, including:
- Medications to treat problems related to congenital heart disease, such as high blood pressure, heart failure and arrhythmias (irregular heart rhythms)
- Cardiac catheterization to repair certain heart defects, such as simple holes in the heart
- Open-heart or minimally invasive surgery to repair or replace a heart valve or correct your congenital heart disease
- Heart transplant surgery, which may be an option depending on your condition and the severity of your illness
Find a location near you
We help you get care at a location that fits your needs. We offer several locations for congenital heart disease care, including specialized centers in North and Central Texas.
5701 Bryant Irvin Rd Ste 302, Fort Worth, TX, 76132
5701 Bryant Irvin Rd Ste 302, Fort Worth, TX, 76132
Not accepting walk-ins
1219 E South 11th St Ste B2, Abilene, TX, 79602
1219 E South 11th St Ste B2, Abilene, TX, 79602
Not accepting walk-ins
1901 Medi Park Dr Ste 2051, Amarillo, TX, 79106
1901 Medi Park Dr Ste 2051, Amarillo, TX, 79106
Not accepting walk-ins
3410 Worth St Ste 250, Dallas, TX, 75246
3410 Worth St Ste 250, Dallas, TX, 75246
Not accepting walk-ins
906 Judson Rd , Longview, TX, 75601
906 Judson Rd , Longview, TX, 75601
Not accepting walk-ins
3711 22nd St Ste B, Lubbock, TX, 79410
3711 22nd St Ste B, Lubbock, TX, 79410
Not accepting walk-ins
420 E 6th St Ste 102, Odessa, TX, 79761
420 E 6th St Ste 102, Odessa, TX, 79761
Not accepting walk-ins
1321 S Beckham Ave , Tyler, TX, 75701
1321 S Beckham Ave , Tyler, TX, 75701
Not accepting walk-ins
1250 8th Ave Ste 200, Fort Worth, TX, 76104
1250 8th Ave Ste 200, Fort Worth, TX, 76104
Not accepting walk-ins
1400 8th Ave , Fort Worth, TX, 76104
1400 8th Ave , Fort Worth, TX, 76104
Accepting walk-ins
3333 Colorado Blvd , Denton, TX, 76210
3333 Colorado Blvd , Denton, TX, 76210
Not accepting walk-ins
16050 Everwell Ln Ste 210, Frisco, TX, 75033
16050 Everwell Ln Ste 210, Frisco, TX, 75033
Not accepting walk-ins
7217 Telecom Pkwy Ste 205, Garland, TX, 75044
7217 Telecom Pkwy Ste 205, Garland, TX, 75044
Not accepting walk-ins
2020 W State Hwy 114 Ste 320, Grapevine, TX, 76051
2020 W State Hwy 114 Ste 320, Grapevine, TX, 76051
Not accepting walk-ins
1401 Shoal Creek Ste 240, Highland Village, TX, 75077
1401 Shoal Creek Ste 240, Highland Village, TX, 75077
Not accepting walk-ins
5236 W University Dr POB I, Ste 4900, McKinney, TX, 75071
5236 W University Dr POB I, Ste 4900, McKinney, TX, 75071
Not accepting walk-ins
1820 Preston Park Blvd Ste 1450, Plano, TX, 75093
1820 Preston Park Blvd Ste 1450, Plano, TX, 75093
Not accepting walk-ins
111 S Preston Rd Ste 10, Prosper, TX, 75078
111 S Preston Rd Ste 10, Prosper, TX, 75078
Not accepting walk-ins
1250 8th Ave Ste 200, Fort Worth, TX, 76104
1250 8th Ave Ste 200, Fort Worth, TX, 76104
Not accepting walk-ins
3711 22nd St Ste B, Lubbock, TX, 79410
3711 22nd St Ste B, Lubbock, TX, 79410
Not accepting walk-ins
420 E 6th St Ste 102, Odessa, TX, 79761
420 E 6th St Ste 102, Odessa, TX, 79761
Not accepting walk-ins
2035 Fort Worth Hwy Ste 100, Weatherford, TX, 76086
2035 Fort Worth Hwy Ste 100, Weatherford, TX, 76086
Not accepting walk-ins
621 N Hall St Ste 120, Dallas, TX, 75226
621 N Hall St Ste 120, Dallas, TX, 75226
Not accepting walk-ins
3333 Colorado Blvd , Denton, TX, 76210
3333 Colorado Blvd , Denton, TX, 76210
Not accepting walk-ins
5236 W University Dr Ste 4900, McKinney, TX, 75071
5236 W University Dr Ste 4900, McKinney, TX, 75071
Not accepting walk-ins
4708 Alliance Blvd Pavilion I, Ste 540, Plano, TX, 75093
4708 Alliance Blvd Pavilion I, Ste 540, Plano, TX, 75093
Not accepting walk-ins
621 N Hall St Ste 500, Dallas, TX, 75226
621 N Hall St Ste 500, Dallas, TX, 75226
Not accepting walk-ins
4400 Interstate 30 W Ste 300, Greenville, TX, 75402
4400 Interstate 30 W Ste 300, Greenville, TX, 75402
Not accepting walk-ins
1575 Interstate 30 , Mesquite, TX, 75150
1575 Interstate 30 , Mesquite, TX, 75150
Not accepting walk-ins
4431 E US Hwy 287 , Midlothian, TX, 76065
4431 E US Hwy 287 , Midlothian, TX, 76065
Not accepting walk-ins
9101 N Central Expy Ste 300C, Dallas, TX, 75231
9101 N Central Expy Ste 300C, Dallas, TX, 75231
Not accepting walk-ins
301 E Ovilla Rd Ste 100, Red Oak, TX, 75154
301 E Ovilla Rd Ste 100, Red Oak, TX, 75154
Not accepting walk-ins
2360 N Interstate 35E Ste 110, Waxahachie, TX, 75165
2360 N Interstate 35E Ste 110, Waxahachie, TX, 75165
Not accepting walk-ins
1110 Cottonwood Ln Ste 215, Irving, TX, 75038
1110 Cottonwood Ln Ste 215, Irving, TX, 75038
Not accepting walk-ins
1307 8th Ave Ste 406, Fort Worth, TX, 76104
1307 8th Ave Ste 406, Fort Worth, TX, 76104
Not accepting walk-ins
3333 Colorado Blvd , Denton, TX, 76210
3333 Colorado Blvd , Denton, TX, 76210
Not accepting walk-ins
16050 Everwell Ln Ste 210, Frisco, TX, 75033
16050 Everwell Ln Ste 210, Frisco, TX, 75033
Not accepting walk-ins
2020 W State Hwy 114 Ste 200, Grapevine, TX, 76051
2020 W State Hwy 114 Ste 200, Grapevine, TX, 76051
Not accepting walk-ins
1401 Shoal Creek Ste 240, Highland Village, TX, 75077
1401 Shoal Creek Ste 240, Highland Village, TX, 75077
Not accepting walk-ins
620 S Main St Ste 240, Keller, TX, 76248
620 S Main St Ste 240, Keller, TX, 76248
Not accepting walk-ins
6000 W Spring Creek Pkwy Ste 220, Plano, TX, 75024
6000 W Spring Creek Pkwy Ste 220, Plano, TX, 75024
Not accepting walk-ins
4708 Alliance Blvd Pavilion I, Ste 450 , Plano, TX, 75093
4708 Alliance Blvd Pavilion I, Ste 450 , Plano, TX, 75093
Not accepting walk-ins
3800 Gaylord Pkwy Ste 910, Frisco, TX, 75034
3800 Gaylord Pkwy Ste 910, Frisco, TX, 75034
Not accepting walk-ins
5308 N Galloway Ave Ste 201, Mesquite, TX, 75150
5308 N Galloway Ave Ste 201, Mesquite, TX, 75150
Not accepting walk-ins
6705 Heritage Pkwy Ste 202, Rockwall, TX, 75087
6705 Heritage Pkwy Ste 202, Rockwall, TX, 75087
Not accepting walk-ins
3410 Worth St Ste 760, Dallas, TX, 75246
3410 Worth St Ste 760, Dallas, TX, 75246
Not accepting walk-ins
3711 22nd St Ste B, Lubbock, TX, 79410
3711 22nd St Ste B, Lubbock, TX, 79410
Not accepting walk-ins
6701 Heritage Pkwy Ste 130, Rockwall, TX, 75087
6701 Heritage Pkwy Ste 130, Rockwall, TX, 75087
Not accepting walk-ins
1321 S Beckham Ave , Tyler, TX, 75702
1321 S Beckham Ave , Tyler, TX, 75702
Not accepting walk-ins
2480 N Interstate 35E , Waxahachie, TX, 75165
2480 N Interstate 35E , Waxahachie, TX, 75165
Not accepting walk-ins