Lifestyle and home remedies

If you have a congenital heart defect or you've had surgery to correct one, you might wonder about limitations on activities and other issues.

• Exercise. Having an atrial septal defect usually doesn't restrict you from activities or exercise. If you have complications, such as arrhythmias, heart failure or pulmonary hypertension, you might be counseled to avoid some activities or exercises. Your cardiologist can help you learn what is safe.

  If you have an unrepaired defect, your doctor will likely advise you to avoid scuba diving and high-altitude climbing.

• Preventing infection. Some heart defects and the repair of defects create changes to the surface of the heart that make it more prone to infection (infective endocarditis). Atrial septal defects generally aren't associated with infective endocarditis, though your doctor will likely recommend preventive antibiotics for about six months after closure whenever you have dental work done.

  But if you have other heart defects besides an atrial septal defect, or if you've had atrial septal defect repair within the last six months, you might need to take antibiotics before certain dental or surgical procedures.