Patent Foramen Ovale (PFO) in Adults

Cardiovascular Care

You may not know you have a patent foramen ovale (PFO), and that’s common. Many adults live with this small heart opening and never feel anything wrong. But in some people, a PFO can raise the risk of a stroke. 

At WMCHealth, we’re here to help you understand your condition and what it means for your health. If you’ve had a stroke or a test showed you might have a PFO, our cardiovascular care experts can guide you through your next steps. 

What Is Patent Foramen Ovale?

A patent foramen ovale (PFO) is a small flap-like opening between the upper chambers of your heart. Before birth, your body uses it to send blood around your lungs. After birth, it should close, but in some people, it stays open. 

If you have a PFO, blood can sometimes pass the wrong way between heart chambers. This can let a blood clot travel to your brain and cause a stroke. A PFO may also affect your oxygen levels or be linked to migraines. 

Symptoms of Patent Foramen Ovale
A PFO usually doesn’t cause any symptoms. You may only learn you have one after a test for another health issue. Some adults with a PFO may have:
  • A mini-stroke (also called a transient ischemic attack, or TIA)
  • A stroke, especially with no clear cause
  • Low oxygen levels during exercise, though this is rare
  • Migraine headaches that start with flashing lights, vision changes, or tingling
Diagnosing Patent Foramen Ovale
At WMCHealth, our cardiovascular experts may recommend one or more of these tests:
  • Echocardiogram: an ultrasound that shows your heart
  • Bubble study: a special kind of ultrasound that uses tiny bubbles in your blood
  • TEE (transesophageal echocardiogram): a detailed ultrasound done with a thin tube placed down your throat for a closer look

WMCHealth

Meet our doctors

Show All Cardiovascular Care Doctors

Walter E. Kaufmann

Cardiovascular Disease

Locations:
  • 5 Skinner St
    Port Jervis, NY 12771

Westchester logoWMCHealth Provider

Andrew Najovits

Cardiovascular Disease, Echocardiography, Nuclear Cardiology

Locations:
  • 257 Lafayette Avenue Suite 300
    Suffern, NY 10901

Westchester logoWMCHealth Provider

Hratch Kazanjian

Cardiovascular Disease

Locations:
  • 30 Hatfield Lane
    Goshen, NY 10924

Westchester logoWMCHealth Provider

Chhaya Gupta

Advanced Heart Failure and Transplant Cardiology

Locations:
  • 257 Lafayette Avenue Suite 330
    Suffern, NY 10901

Westchester logoWMCHealth Provider

Andrew C. Shih

Interventional Cardiology, Cardiovascular Disease, Internal Medicine

Locations:
  • 257 Lafayette Avenue Suite 285
    Suffern, NY 10901

Westchester logoWMCHealth Provider

Ahmed Alabbady

Interventional Cardiology

Locations:
  • 1 Crosfield Avenue Suite 101
    West Nyack, NY 10994

Westchester logoWMCHealth Provider

Richard Cantor

Cardiovascular Disease, Nuclear Cardiology, Internal Medicine, Echocardiography

Locations:
  • 2 Executive Boulevard
    Suffern, NY 10901

Westchester logoWMCHealth Provider

Amala Chirumamilla

Cardiovascular Disease, Echocardiography, Nuclear Cardiology

Locations:
  • 257 Lafayette Avenue Suite 300
    Suffern, NY 10901

Westchester logoWMCHealth Provider

Seth Hurwitz

Cardiovascular Disease, Echocardiography, Nuclear Cardiology

Locations:
  • 30 Hatfield Lane
    Goshen, NY 10924

Westchester logoWMCHealth Provider

John Zimmerman

Clinical Cardiac Electrophysiology, Cardiovascular Disease

Locations:
  • 30 Hatfield Lane
    Goshen, NY 10924

Westchester logoWMCHealth Provider

Cary L. Hirsch

Interventional Cardiology, Cardiovascular Disease

Locations:
  • 257 Lafayette Avenue Suite 300
    Suffern, NY 10901

Westchester logoWMCHealth Provider

Gunjan J. Shukla

Clinical Cardiac Electrophysiology, Cardiovascular Disease

Locations:
  • 257 Lafayette Avenue Suite 330
    Suffern, NY 10901

Westchester logoWMCHealth Provider

Savalan Babapoor

Clinical Cardiac Electrophysiology

Locations:
  • 257 Lafayette Avenue Suite 330
    Suffern, NY 10901

Westchester logoWMCHealth Provider

Joseph Harburger

Cardiovascular Disease, Diagnostic Ultrasound, Internal Medicine

Locations:
  • 100 Woods Road ACP 1st Floor
    Valhalla, NY 10595

Westchester logoWMCHealth Provider

Divya Malhotra

Cardiovascular Disease

Locations:
  • 100 Woods Road ACP 1st Floor
    Valhalla, NY 10595

Westchester logoWMCHealth Provider

Arvind Agarwal

Cardiovascular Disease, Internal Medicine

Locations:
  • 12 Liberty Square Mall
    Stony Point, NY 10980

Westchester logoWMCHealth Provider

Lee P. Root

Cardiovascular Disease, Internal Medicine, Echocardiography, Nuclear Cardiology

Locations:
  • 972 Route 45 Suite 103
    Pomona, NY 10970

Westchester logoWMCHealth Provider

Stephen Pan

Advanced Heart Failure and Transplant Cardiology, Cardiovascular Disease

Locations:
  • 257 Lafayette Avenue Suite 330
    Suffern, NY 10901

Westchester logoWMCHealth Provider

Gregg M. Lanier

Advanced Heart Failure and Transplant Cardiology

Locations:
  • 257 Lafayette Avenue Suite 330
    Suffern, NY 10901

Westchester logoWMCHealth Provider

Alan Gass

Advanced Heart Failure and Transplant Cardiology

Locations:
  • 257 Lafayette Avenue Suite 330
    Suffern, NY 10901

Westchester logoWMCHealth Provider

Patent Foramen Ovale Treatment
Not everyone with a PFO needs treatment. If your PFO was found by chance and you’ve never had a stroke, you may not need to do anything. If you’ve had a stroke or other problems linked to your PFO, your care team may recommend treatment. At WMCHealth, your care team includes heart and brain specialists who work together to create the right plan for you. Your plan will depend on your health, age, and stroke risk. We may suggest one of these options:
  • Watchful waiting: regular follow-ups for monitoring
  • Medication: aspirin or blood thinners to help prevent clots
  • PFO closure: a simple procedure using a thin tube (catheter) to place a small device that seals the hole

Lowering Your Stroke Risk

If you have a PFO, you may wonder what it means for your future health. At WMCHealth, we work closely with you to understand your risks and create a plan that protects your health. Our heart and brain specialists collaborate to offer advanced tests, treatment options, and long-term support to help reduce your chances of stroke. 

Learn More

What to Do Next

If you’ve been told you may have a PFO, talk to a heart specialist about what it means. At WMCHealth, we’re here to help you understand your options and protect your long-term health. 

Find a Doctor Make an Appointment Find a Location Patient Portal