Patient's question:
What are the symptoms of an atrial septal defect?Doctor's answer:
Atrial septal defect (ASD) is a relatively common congenital heart disease. If the scar is small, it may not cause symptoms, but symptoms such as palpitations, chest tightness, and shortness of breath may reappear during intense exercise. As age decreases, some small atrial septal defects can heal on their own. Those without scarring may worsen in symptoms with age, leading to later stages where multiple different types of arrhythmias, heart failure, and other complications may occur.