Can people with atrial septal defect run?

Written by Di Zhi Yong
Cardiology
Updated on February 11, 2025
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Atrial septal defect is a type of congenital heart disease. It is advised that patients avoid long-distance travel or running as these activities can increase the burden on the heart and also increase myocardial oxygen consumption. Surgical treatment is recommended for this condition. Patients with atrial septal defect may also experience symptoms such as palpitations and chest tightness, and a murmur can be heard in the precordial area. If the symptoms are severe, it is recommended that the patient primarily rests and avoids participating in sports activities, especially running. Running can require a lot of oxygen, or cause a rapid heart rate. A rapid heart rate can lead to increased myocardial oxygen consumption and may result in compensatory symptoms like palpitations, chest tightness, and shortness of breath. This situation is very dangerous and needs to be dealt with promptly; it is best to go to the hospital.

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Written by Tang Li
Cardiology
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Can someone with an atrial septal defect get pregnant?

Whether patients with atrial septal defects can become pregnant depends on the following factors: 1. Whether the patient normally has symptoms. 2. Whether the echocardiography indicates heart enlargement or pulmonary hypertension. 3. The size of the atrial septal defect. 4. Whether there is a combination of arrhythmias such as atrial flutter or atrial fibrillation, and complications such as pulmonary hypertension or heart failure. For those without symptoms, and where the defect does not cause pulmonary hypertension or right heart enlargement, choosing to become pregnant is possible. Complications are not common in pregnant women with isolated atrial septal defects without pulmonary hypertension. Studies have shown that the incidence of complications in pregnant women, whether the defect is repaired or not, is relatively low. If the patient has related arrhythmias and complications, it should be closely monitored, because the cardiovascular system of the mother undergoes changes during pregnancy, leading to increased cardiac workload and a higher burden on the heart, which in turn can increase the incidence of arrhythmias. For women who are already at high risk of atrial flutter or fibrillation, this risk can increase further. Additionally, pregnant women are in an older physiological state, making it easier to form blood clots, and for those with atrial septal defects, the risk of paradoxical thrombosis increases.

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Written by Di Zhi Yong
Cardiology
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Does ventricular septal defect affect growth and development?

Because atrial septal defect is a type of congenital heart disease, if the patient's congenital heart disease is very severe, surgical treatment is needed. Atrial septal defect does have some impact on growth and development, as congenital heart disease can cause infections or pulmonary inflammation in patients, which can lead to developmental delays in children. Personally, I recommend that if it is a type of congenital heart disease, especially atrial septal defect, it is better to have surgery early, as this can avoid impacting growth and development. After the surgery, there are no sequelae, and it does not affect growth and development. However, not undergoing surgery can impact growth and development.

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Written by Tang Li
Cardiology
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Is atrial septal defect common?

Atrial septal defect accounts for about 20%-30% of all congenital heart diseases and is more common in females. Many cases are mild in children and are not discovered until adulthood. Atrial septal defects can be classified based on anatomical abnormalities into patent foramen ovale, primary atrial septal defect, and secondary atrial septal defect. A patent foramen ovale generally does not cause shunting between the two atria. A primary atrial septal defect is located at the lower part of the atrial septum, is semicircular in shape, and is often larger, frequently associated with malformation of the mitral or tricuspid valves resulting in regurgitation. A secondary atrial septal defect is situated in the middle of the atrial septum at the fossa ovalis or near the superior and inferior vena cava. The symptoms of an atrial septal defect vary with the size of the defect; minor cases may be asymptomatic, while severe cases can result in heart failure.

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Written by Chen Tian Hua
Cardiology
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Does atrial septal defect increase in size as age progresses?

The defects in the atrial septum tend to enlarge as one ages, and with the enlargement of the atrial septal defect, the patient's condition will also gradually worsen. Of course, some small atrial septal defects may close gradually as one ages after birth. For atrial septal defects that cannot close, if they gradually enlarge, they will lead to symptoms like chest tightness and shortness of breath in patients and are likely to cause respiratory infections. As the condition progresses, it can lead to pulmonary hypertension and cause right heart failure. For atrial septal defects that cannot close, if there are indications for surgery, active surgical treatment should be provided to prevent the worsening of the condition.

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Written by Li Hai Wen
Cardiology
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Can someone with an atrial septal defect go swimming?

Atrial septal defect is not uncommon in our daily lives. Many patients with atrial septal defects often ask their doctor if they can swim. This has to be analyzed based on specific circumstances. If the atrial septal defect is not severe, and it's just a minor atrial septal defect, generally it does not affect the patient's daily activities, such as swimming or running. However, if the atrial septal defect is severe, especially if it has led to heart failure and heart enlargement, in this situation, one should definitely not engage in strenuous activities such as swimming or running.