Septal Defect Symptoms

The heart is made up of two upper and two lower chambers. These chambers are separated by a wall called the septum. In a septal defect, a hole forms in either the upper (atrial) or the lower (ventricle) chamber. This condition is usually a congenital (present at birth) defect. Both children and adults can suffer similarly from problematic symptoms. The symptoms can include their ability to do physical activity and can affect their appearance.

Cyanosis

• Cyanosis is a bluish coloring to the skin caused by a lack of oxygen in the blood. It commonly occurs in babies, children and adults. Some people develop bluish skin around their lips, fingers, toes or even the palms of the hands and soles of the feet. This symptom can be very frightening to parents or family members. It is not normal, and if this symptom is visible, it should be immediately reported to a physician.

Skin Color Change

• According to the Mayo Clinic, pale skin color is commonly seen in both children and adults suffering from a septal defect. Some people will even have a loss of healthy skin color and may always appear pale and white. If the person is Caucasian, they will have a white, pasty look about them. Other people may have a gray look to their skin. Someone with darker skin will also have a noticeable change in color to the palms of their hands or soles of their feet where the coloration is much lighter. Darker skinned people may also have a dull look to their skin.

Sweating

• Sweating is often seen in an adult that suffers from a septal defect. Adults will often sweat and complain of being hot.The sweating may be present even when the person is not actively moving around. Sweating may become so frequent that it may cause a person's hair to be wet all the time. They will appear flushed and have rosy cheeks with pale skin. Some people may always have a fan blowing on them or need to keep the air at a very cool temperature.

Fatigue

• Fatigue is also a signal that there may be a septal defect. Fatigue in children is most noticeable in the morning or afternoons when children need a nap. This may even be the case for older children in grade school. If you have a child that comes in after school and frequently needs a long nap, you may have a child that is not well. Taking lengthy naps, sometimes up to three hours, is often seen in kids with a septal defect. The Children's Hospital of Boston reports that children with septal defects have great difficulty physically keeping up with their peers because they tire much easier. In addition, adults have many of the same symptoms. There will be a general intolerance to exercise and adults will also take lengthy naps and complain of fatigue.

Headaches

• Many people with septal defects also suffer from severe headaches or migraines. Scientists have long been interested in the correlation of headaches and septal defects. Some of these patients have found that the frequency of these headaches is greatly reduced when the defect is repaired. Some sufferers have even found that their headaches go away completely. The link between septal defects and headaches is still being studied by the medical community and more information is needed.