Warning Signs Of Aortic Stenosis

Poor Feeding

An infant affected by aortic stenosis may experience poor feeding as an indicative symptom of their heart malformation. Aortic stenosis causes the blood to back up in the right side of an individual's heart and their lungs, as more blood is entering cardiopulmonary circulation than leaving it through the aorta. This malfunction occurs because the aortic valve opening is too narrow and does not allow a normal volume of blood to move through the opening. The backup of blood in the lungs and right side of an individual's heart can cause them to experience respiratory distress or problems with their breathing. The backup of blood in an individual's lungs because of their narrowed aortic valve opening can cause them to experience chest pain. Another complication of aortic stenosis is pulmonary edema or the buildup of fluid in the lungs due to being overloaded with blood. Blood vessels that meet their maximum expansion ability can allow fluids from the blood to leech into surrounding tissues. In aortic stenosis, this malfunction occurs in the lungs. The discomfort in the chest area due to blood overload and pulmonary edema can cause an affected infant to experience poor feeding.