Cyanotic Congenital Heart Disease Symptoms

Cyanotic congenital heart disease is essentially a defect found in the heart that was present at the time of birth. This defect affects the way in which the heart ultimately works, lessening the level of oxygen in the blood than what would normally be seen in a child with a fully functioning heart. This condition can bring with it a number of different symptoms that are dependent on the type of heart defect with which the child was born.

Cyanosis

• The most common symptom of cyanotic congenital heart disease is cyanosis, which is a bluing of the skin due to the lowered level of oxygen in the blood.

Shortness of Breath

• Cyanotic congenital heart disease may also cause a person to suffer from a shortness of breath or a feeling of being winded.

Fatigue

• Many people who are living with cyanotic congenital heart disease may also experience some level of fatigue. Again, this would be due to the decreased level of oxygen in the blood.

Appetite and Weight

• A number of people with cyanotic congenital heart disease will frequently have a poor appetite, so to speak. This lack of appetite would inevitably affect the way in which a person gains weight or keeps weight.

Irritability

• Some people with cyanotic congenital heart disease will begin to manifest the symptom of irritability. This may be a reaction to the culmination of symptoms or a reaction to the level of oxygen in the blood, but it is common to witness this symptom when a heart defect is present.

Sweating

• Infants who have cyanotic congenital heart disease may actually exhibit the symptom of sweating for no apparent reason. This will mostly occur while eating and nursing.