Congenital heart disease

“Congenital” means that it is present from birth, this can be due to a genetic variation passed on during pregnancy or poor lifestyle choices. Many cases are diagnosed prior to the arrival of the baby but it is not always possible. There are a variety of symptoms which may indicate an issue, these are:

• Rapid breathing
• Faster heart rate
• Extreme tiredness
• Swelling (of the legs, eyes and/or tummy)
• A blue-ish tinge to the skin

If you have any concerns, always speak to your healthcare professional.

Three conditions of CHD include: 

• A hole in the heart:  this is when a hole is present between two chambers.  In many cases this may improve all on it’s own and further treatment may not be necessary.
• An underdeveloped heart:  where the organ cannot work properly and move blood around the body
• The narrowing of the aorta (otherwise known as Coarctation):  where the main artery in the body is narrower than it should be.

More information can be found on Congenital heart disease on the NHS website.

Page last reviewed: 22 August 2024