Overview

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, pronounced ko-ahrk-TAY-shun) forces your heart to pump harder to move blood through the aorta.

Coarctation of the aorta is generally present at birth (congenital). Although the condition can affect any part of the aorta, the defect is most often located near a blood vessel called the ductus arteriosus. 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. Though treatment is usually successful, the condition requires careful lifelong follow-up.