Chronic fatigue may be a sign of a congenital heart defect

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There are many causes of this abnormality, including hereditary problems, rubella, medication, alcoholism (parents).

Congenital heart defects are one of the most common birth defects in children worldwide. This defect usually affects how blood flows through the heart and circulates throughout the body. A congenital heart defect can range from a relatively mild, minor problem to a serious condition—a defect in any of the heart's structures, including arteries, valves, chambers, and septa, that a baby is born with.

Some of the more serious categories of congenital heart defects include absent ventricles, septal defects, interrupted aortic arch, Ebstein's anomaly, transposition of the arteries, atrioventricular defect, and many others.

What are the signs that indicate a congenital heart defect?

According to the doctor, such signs are often noticed and recorded in adulthood. Here's what they include.

• Irregular heart rhythm (arrhythmia).
• Bluish skin, lips, nails.
• Shortness of breath.
• Chronic fatigue.
• Tendency to edema.

It is known that congenital heart disease is inherited and, therefore, can be a genetic disease. In addition to genetic predisposition, rubella, suffered by a woman during pregnancy, or gestational diabetes can also be a factor in its occurrence.

Smoking, alcohol consumption and certain medications during pregnancy are also associated with an increased risk of heart defects in offspring, the doctor emphasized.