Medical knowledge, Patient Education
Coarctation of the Aorta
Coarctation of the aorta is a narrowing of the main blood vessel that delivers blood from the heart to the rest of the body (aorta). This narrowing prevents blood from passing through the aorta the way it should. As a result, the heart has to pump harder than usual.
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Cause high blood pressure in the upper part of the body and low blood pressure in the legs.
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Lead to complications such as:
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Stroke.
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Brain aneurysm.
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High blood pressure (hypertension).
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Coronary artery disease.
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Increase the risk of having an abnormal heart valve.
Getting treatment for this condition is important to prevent complications.
What are the causes?
The cause of this condition is not known.
What increases the risk?
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Having a family history of the condition.
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Having any other type of congenital heart defect.
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Being male.
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Having a rare blood vessel disease (Takayasu’s arteritis).
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Having Turner syndrome.
What are the signs or symptoms?
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Lack of energy.
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High blood pressure.
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Chest pain.
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Headache.
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Dizziness.
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Fast or irregular heartbeats (palpitations).
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Kidney problems.
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Frequent miscarriages in women.
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Shortness of breath with activity, such as climbing stairs.
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A cough that does not go away.
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Swelling of the feet, ankles, legs, or abdomen.
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Unexplained weight gain.
How is this diagnosed?
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Chest X-ray.
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Echocardiogram. This is an ultrasound scan of the heart.
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Electrocardiogram (ECG). This records electrical activity in the heart.
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CT scan.
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MRI.
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Cardiac catheterization. During this test, a long, thin tube (catheter) is inserted into a blood vessel and guided into your heart. This allows your health care provider to check pressures in the heart and take images of the coarctation.
How is this treated?
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Ask about any new symptoms.
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Listen to your heart to check for sounds of abnormal blood flow (murmur).
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Check the blood pressure in your arms and legs to see if there are differences between the two.
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Check the pulses in your neck and groin to see if there are differences between the two.
If your checkups are normal, you may not need treatment. If you develop complications, you may have more tests or may need to take medicines to control high blood pressure and cholesterol.
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Removal of the narrowed section.
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A procedure to widen the coarctation (angioplasty).
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A procedure to place a small mesh tube (stent) inside the aorta to keep it open.
The coarctation can come back after a surgical repair.
Follow these instructions at home:
Lifestyle
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Do not use any products that contain nicotine or tobacco. These products include cigarettes, chewing tobacco, and vaping devices, such as e-cigarettes. If you need help quitting, ask your health care provider.
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Eat a heart-healthy diet. This includes high-fiber foods, such as fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and beans, as well as lean protein and low-fat dairy products.
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Maintain a healthy weight.
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Exercise regularly. Avoid heavy lifting. Ask your health care provider what activities and exercises are safe for you.
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Work with your health care provider to manage your blood pressure and cholesterol levels.
General instructions
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Take over-the-counter and prescription medicines only as told by your health care provider.
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If you were prescribed an antibiotic medicine, take it as told by your health care provider. Do not stop taking the antibiotic even if you start to feel better.
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If you are a woman and you plan to become pregnant, schedule a complete cardiology exam before you get pregnant.
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Keep all follow-up visits. This is important.
Contact a health care provider if:
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You become pregnant or plan to become pregnant.
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You develop any new signs or symptoms.
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You have tiredness or fatigue that gets worse.
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You have a cough.
Get help right away if:
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You have chest pain.
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You have shortness of breath.
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You have dizziness.
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You have any symptoms of a stroke. “BE FAST” is an easy way to remember the main warning signs of a stroke:
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B – Balance. Signs are dizziness, sudden trouble walking, or loss of balance.
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E – Eyes. Signs are trouble seeing or a sudden change in vision.
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F – Face. Signs are sudden weakness or numbness of the face, or the face or eyelid drooping on one side.
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A – Arms. Signs are weakness or numbness in an arm. This happens suddenly and usually on one side of the body.
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S – Speech. Signs are sudden trouble speaking, slurred speech, or trouble understanding what people say.
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T – Time. Time to call emergency services. Write down what time symptoms started.
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You have other signs of a stroke, such as:
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A sudden, severe headache with no known cause.
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Nausea or vomiting.
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Seizure.
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These symptoms may represent a serious problem that is an emergency. Do not wait to see if the symptoms will go away. Get medical help right away. Call your local emergency services (911 in the U.S.). Do not drive yourself to the hospital.
Summary
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Coarctation of the aorta is a narrowing of the main blood vessel that delivers blood from the heart to the rest of the body (aorta). Most people have no symptoms of this condition.
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Getting treatment for this condition is important to prevent complications.
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Work with your health care provider to manage your blood pressure and cholesterol levels.
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Get help right away if you have chest pain, dizziness, or any symptoms of a stroke.
This information is not intended to replace advice given to you by your health care provider. Make sure you discuss any questions you have with your health care provider.
