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Symptoms
By Mayo Clinic staffMany babies born with atrial septal defects don't have signs or symptoms. In adults, signs or symptoms may not develop until age 30 or later.
Your doctor may first uncover an atrial septal defect during a regular checkup while listening to your heart using a stethoscope. Hearing a heart murmur may signal a hole in your heart. Atrial septal defects are often found when an ultrasound exam of the heart (echocardiogram) is done for another reason.
Signs and symptoms of atrial septal defects develop once damage occurs to the heart and lungs. Infants with larger atrial septal defects may have poor appetites and not grow as they should. Adults and infants may have signs of heart failure or arrhythmias.
Signs and symptoms of large or long-standing atrial septal defects may include:
- Shortness of breath
- Fatigue
- Swelling of legs, feet or abdomen
- Heart palpitations or skipped beats
