Atrial Septal Defect
Atrial Septal Defect Atrial Septal Defect (ASD) ASD is a type of congenital heart disease, which means a person is born with it. People with ASD have an abnormal opening in the dividing wall between the upper filling chambers of the heart, or the atria. In most cases, ASDs are diagnosed and treated successfully with few or no complications. What Causes an Atrial Septal Defect? ASDs occur during a baby's development in the mother's womb and are present at birth. Before birth, the heart develops from a large tube, dividing into sections that will eventually become its walls and chambers. If a problem occurs during this process, a hole in the wall that divides the left atrium from the right may result. In some cases, the tendency to develop an ASD may be inherited, or genetic. For most people with an ASD, no one knows exactly why it happens. Symptoms/Signs Poor appetite, Poor growth, fatigue and tiredness during activity, shortness of breath, lung problems ...