What is the function of the aorta in the body?
The aorta is the largest artery in your body. It moves oxygen-rich blood from your heart to the rest of your body. Narrowing of the aorta (aortic coarctation) forces your heart to pump harder to move blood through the aorta.
Coarctation of the aorta is generally present at birth (congenital).
Symptoms can range from mild to severe. It might not be detected until adulthood, depending on how much the aorta is narrowed.
Coarctation of the aorta often occurs along with other heart defects.
Symptoms
Babies with severe coarctation of the aorta may begin having symptoms shortly after birth. These include:
- Pale skin
- Irritability
- Heavy sweating
- Difficulty breathing
- Difficulty feeding
Signs or symptoms of coarctation of the aorta after infancy commonly include:
- High blood pressure
- Headaches
- Muscle weakness
- Leg cramps or cold feet
- Nosebleeds
- Chest pain
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
Causes
Doctors aren't certain what causes coarctation of the aorta.
The condition is generally present at birth (congenital).Congenital heart defects are the most common of all birth defects.
Rarely, coarctation of the aorta develops later in life.
Conditions or events that can narrow the aorta and cause this condition include:
- Traumatic injury
- Severe hardening of the arteries (atherosclerosis)
- Inflamed arteries
Coarctation of the aorta often occurs along with other congenital heart defects. Certain heart conditions are often associated with coarctation, including:
- Bicuspid aortic valve.
- Sub-aortic stenosis.
- Patent ductus arteriosus.
- Congenital mitral valve stenosis
Coarctation of the aorta is more common in males than in females
Complications
Without treatment, coarctation of the aorta frequently leads to complications. In babies, it may lead to heart failure or death.
High blood pressure is the most common long-term complication of coarctation of the aorta.
Blood pressure usually drops after the aortic coarctation has been repaired, but may still be higher than normal.
In complicated clinical cases it is also possible to develop a brain aneurysm or hemorrhage in the brain, aortic rupture, heart failure, stroke, coronary artery disease, kidney failure and more.
Source:
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/coarctation-of-the-aorta/symptoms-causes/syc-20352529
