Structural heart disease can affect both how safely and efficiently your heart functions, and may even lead to stroke, heart attack, or death if left untreated. At Cardiac Associates of North Jersey, we can accurately and effectively diagnose and treat these diseases.
What is Structural Heart Disease?
Structural heart diseases are cardiac defects of the heart that are usually present from birth, but also may include abnormalities of the heart wall’s valves and vessels that develop over time.
The two most common types of structural heart diseases are:
- Atrial septal defect (ASD)
- Patent foramen ovale (PFO)
The ASD is a hole in the wall of the septum that separates the top two chambers of the heart. Like the ASD, the PFO is a flap-like hole in the wall that separates the upper two chambers of the heart.
Symptoms
The symptoms of each of the most common structural heart diseases vary fairly drastically. For example, symptoms of ASDs include heart palpitations, stroke, and exercise intolerance. When it comes to PFOs, common signs are mini strokes, migraine headaches, and low oxygen levels. While stroke is also a symptom of coarctation of the aorta, the rest of its symptoms are a little different than ASDs and PFOs.
Treatment
Cardiac Associates of North Jersey offer treatments for all three of these structural heart diseases. We typically take a catheter-based approach to correcting ASDs and PFOs. Ballon valvuloplasty and valve replacement are also valid treatment options. We can also refer patients that need to undergo more intensive, invasive procedures to expert surgeons in the area.
Before beginning treatment, our medical team will discuss the details of each procedure in depth with you, so you know exactly what to expect from your procedure.
If you suspect that you may have a structural heart disease or would like to seek treatment for one, contact Cardiac Associates of North Jersey today to schedule a consultation appointment.
