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Symptoms
By Mayo Clinic staffThe signs and symptoms of coarctation of the aorta depend on its seriousness. Children with serious aortic narrowing tend to show signs and symptoms earlier in life, while mild cases may not be diagnosed until adulthood.
Babies with severe coarctation of the aorta usually begin having signs and symptoms shortly after birth. These include:
- Pale skin
- Irritability
- Heavy sweating
- Difficulty breathing
Left untreated, aortic coarctation in babies may lead to heart failure and death.
Older children and adults with the condition often don't have symptoms, because they tend to have less severe narrowing of the aorta. If signs or symptoms appear, the most common sign is high blood pressure (hypertension) measured in the arm. Signs and symptoms may include:
- High blood pressure
- Shortness of breath, especially during exercise
- Headache
- Muscle weakness
- Leg cramps or cold feet
- Nosebleeds
When to see a doctor
Seek medical help if you or your child has the following signs or symptoms:
- Severe chest pain
- Fainting
- Sudden shortness of breath
- Unexplained high blood pressure
While experiencing these signs or symptoms doesn't necessarily mean that you have a serious problem, it's best to get checked out quickly. Early detection and treatment may help save your life.
- Valvular and vascular conditions. In: Libby P, et al., eds. Braunwald's Heart Disease: A Textbook of Cardiovascular Medicine. 8th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2007. http://www.mdconsult.com/book/player/book.do?method=display&type=bookPage&decorator=header&eid=4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-4106-1..50017-0--cesec183&uniq=174691007&isbn=978-1-4160-4106-1&sid=926969382#lpState=open&lpTab=contentsTab&content=4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-4106-1..50064-9--cesec591%3Bfrom%3Dindex%3Btype%3DbookPage%3Bisbn%3D978-1-4160-4106-1. Accessed Dec. 8, 2009.
- Coarctation of the aorta. American Heart Association. http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=11069. Accessed Dec. 8, 2009.
- Hoschtitzky JA, et al. Aortic coarctation and interrupted aortic arch. In: Anderson RH, et al. Paediatric Cardiology. 3rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Churchill Livingstone Elsevier; 2009. http://www.mdconsult.com/book/player/book.do?method=display&type=bookPage&decorator=header&eid=4-u1.0-B978-0-7020-3064-2..00049-7&uniq=174691007&isbn=978-0-7020-3064-2&sid=926979263#lpState=open&lpTab=contentsTab&content=4-u1.0-B978-0-7020-3064-2..00049-7%3Bfrom%3Dtoc%3Btype%3DbookPage%3Bisbn%3D978-0-7020-3064-2. Accessed Dec. 8, 2009.
- Agarwala BN, et al. Clinical manifestations and diagnosis of coarctation of the aorta. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Dec. 8, 2009.
- Agarwala BN, et al. Management of coarctation of the aorta. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Dec. 8, 2009.
- Prevention of infective endocarditis: Guidelines from the American Heart Association. Circulation. 2007;116:1736.
- Grogan M (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Dec. 15, 2009.
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