Lifestyle and home remedies

After tetralogy of Fallot treatment, your doctor might recommend lifestyle changes and tips to help you manage your or your child's condition, including:

• Preventing infection. A child, adolescent or adult who has severe heart defects might need to take preventive antibiotics before certain dental procedures and surgeries. Your or your child's doctor can tell you if this is necessary. Maintaining good oral hygiene and getting regular dental checkups are important ways to help prevent infection.
• Limiting certain types of exercise. The doctor might recommend that you or your child limit strenuous physical activity, particularly if there are heart rhythm problems (arrhythmias) or leakage or blockage of the pulmonary valve. Decisions about exercise need to be made on an individual basis. Talk to your or your child's doctor about which activities are safe.

If you're an adult who has congenital heart disease, you might have other concerns, including:

• Employment. If you have serious heart rhythm problems or the potential for life-threatening complications, evaluation by a specialty team is needed to determine your specific risk, provide therapy and counsel you regarding employment.
• Pregnancy. A severe heart defect or arrhythmia can increase the risk of complications during pregnancy. If you have congenital heart disease, discuss family planning with your doctor. Your doctor may recommend that you receive care during your pregnancy from doctors trained in congenital heart disease, genetics and high-risk obstetrics. Some heart medications aren't safe during pregnancy and might need to be stopped or adjusted before you become pregnant.