The American Heart Association estimates that 1.4 million adults live with a congenital heart defect. The interventional cardiologists at Phoenix Heart specialize in treating structural heart defects using catheter-based therapies to achieve optimal results. If you have symptoms such as chest pain, shortness of breath, or fatigue, schedule an appointment online or call one of the offices in Glendale, Goodyear, Anthem, Buckeye, Laveen, and Black Canyon City, Arizona.
Structural heart defects encompass a group of problems that may involve the heart’s walls, valves, or blood vessels. These defects may be present at birth or develop as you get older.
These are a few examples of structural heart defects:
Even when structural defects are congenital, they may not cause symptoms until you’re an adult.
Congenital heart defects are one of the most common types of birth defects. They may be associated with abnormal chromosomes, single gene defects, or environmental factors. However, their exact cause usually remains unknown.
Adult structural heart defects may develop due to:
Structural changes also take place as you get older. For example, the heart wall and blood vessels tend to become thick and stiff.
Congenital heart defects are noticeable during the first few months after birth. Babies develop bluish skin, have difficulty breathing and feeding, and fail to gain weight.
The most common symptoms that appear in adults include:
It’s important to schedule an examination at Phoenix Heart if you develop any of these symptoms because they’re signs of many potential heart problems.
The interventional cardiologists at Phoenix Heart specialize in using catheter-based therapies to treat structural heart defects in patients who can’t undergo open-heart surgery.
They frequently perform catheter-based procedures such as:
If you develop symptoms like chest pain, call Phoenix Heart or schedule an appointment online.
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