What is patent foramen ovale?
Patent Foramen Ovale (PFO) is a congenital atrial septal defect. Before birth, a fetus has a hole between the left and right atria (upper chambers of the heart). PFO is characterized by a failure of that hole to close naturally.
How do members experience patent foramen ovale?
Top 5 symptoms reported by people with patent foramen ovale*
Common symptoms
How bad it is
What people are taking for it
Common symptom
Stress
How bad it is
What people are taking for it
Nothing reported yet
Common symptom
Tension headaches
How bad it is
What people are taking for it
Nothing reported yet
Common symptom
Fatigue
How bad it is
What people are taking for it
Common symptom
Pain
How bad it is
What people are taking for it
Common symptom
Chest tightness
How bad it is
What people are taking for it
Nothing reported yet
*Reports may be affected by other conditions and/or medication side effects. We ask about general symptoms (anxious mood, depressed mood, fatigue, pain, and stress) regardless of condition.
Top treatments taken by people for patent foramen ovale*
Who has patent foramen ovale on PatientsLikeMe?
| Age | Proportion | # of patients |
|---|---|---|
| <20 | 1 | |
| 20s | 2 | |
| 30s | 13 | |
| 40s | 17 | |
| 50s | 27 | |
| 60s | 15 | |
| 70+ | 4 |
Distribution of sex
| Sex | Proportion | # of patients |
|---|---|---|
| Male | 18 | |
| Female | 61 |