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Symptoms of congenital heart disease may be present from birth and in childhood, such as:
Sometimes symptoms do not appear until you're a teenager or adult.
Common symptoms of congenital heart disease include:
It’s common to have a heart murmur, where your heartbeat has an unusual sound. This is something a doctor can diagnose using a stethoscope.
You or your child may also:
Your child may also be limp, floppy or not responding like they normally do. Their head may fall to the side, backwards or forwards, or they may find it difficult to lift their head or focus on your face.
These are signs of a serious medical problem.
Do not drive yourself to A&E.
The person you speak to at 999 will give you advice about what to do.
You can call 111 or get help from 111 online. Call 111 if you need advice for a child under 5 years old.
Congenital heart disease is screened for during the 20-week pregnancy screening scan. The 20-week scan cannot find all conditions, so it’s possible for congenital heart disease to be missed.
Sometimes it is not diagnosed until you’re an adult.
Tests for congenital heart disease in children and adults include:
There are many different types of congenital heart disease and how it is treated will vary depending on the type.
Some types can have an immediate effect on the body and need surgery soon after birth.
Other types, such as a hole in the heart can often be left untreated.
If you or your child are diagnosed with congenital heart disease, you’ll be referred to a specialist team at an NHS hospital.
You or your child may only need regular check-ups after diagnosis and treatment may only be needed if symptoms get worse.
If you have congenital heart disease, you may need to take medicine:
Depending on your condition, you may need surgery as soon as you are born, or much later in your life.
Surgery for congenital heart disease includes:
In rare cases, you may need to have a heart transplant or a heart and lungs transplant.
If you have congenital heart disease, it’s important to keep your heart and lungs as healthy as possible.
try to stick to a healthy weight
try to eat a healthy diet including fruit, vegetables, wholegrain foods such as wholemeal bread and oats, and pulses such as chickpeas and lentils
take care of your teeth and make sure you have regular dental check-ups; gum infections can cause complications if you have congenital heart disease
stay physically active - your care team can give advice about what is a safe level of activity for you
do not smoke, vape or use illegal drugs
do not drink large amounts of alcohol as this can damage your heart and blood vessels
Having congenital heart disease can affect your life in many different ways.
For some people, the condition may just mean having regular check-ups.
Other people may have symptoms that limit what they can do, such as not being as physically active as they would like.
If your condition is making you anxious or affecting your mental health, talk to your care team.
If you have congenital heart disease and are pregnant, or trying to get pregnant, tell your care team.
They can offer advice on how to make your pregnancy as safe as possible and provide additional treatment as required.
Congenital heart disease can put strain on your heart and lungs, and you may get complications as you get older.
Complications can include:
Congenital heart disease develops while your heart is still being formed inside the womb.
Sometimes problems with your heart are caused by an altered gene being passed on from one of your parents. But often there is no clear reason why someone is born with congenital heart disease.
If you’re pregnant, you may be more likely to have a baby with congenital heart disease if:
As well as support from your care team, you may find it helpful to get support from other people affected by congenital heart disease.
This could be from other parents and carers, or other adults living with the condition.
The British Heart Foundation is a national charity that offers support and information about congenital heart disease.
Information and support for anyone affected by congenital heart disease.
