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Rheumatic heart disease
Are the symptoms of rheumatic heart disease severe?
Rheumatic heart disease is a type of organic heart disease where the heart valves are damaged, leading to stenosis and insufficiency. Symptoms vary with the extent of the damage. Mild damage does not significantly alter hemodynamics, and there may be no clinical symptoms, allowing for unrestricted physical activity. Severe damage results in noticeable changes in hemodynamics, presenting with symptoms of heart failure such as coughing, expectoration, cyanosis, palpitations and shortness of breath after activity, swelling of the lower limbs, and indigestion among other signs of heart dysfunction. Early treatment is necessary to prevent worsening of heart failure and to safeguard the patient’s life.
Rheumatic heart disease causes
The primary cause of rheumatic heart disease is an abnormal immune response caused by infection with hemolytic streptococcus, which leads to damage of the heart valves. This damage results in narrowing or insufficiency of the valves, altering the hemodynamics within the blood and increasing the burden on the heart, thereby causing a series of clinical symptoms. Early control of streptococcal infections can reduce the occurrence of rheumatic heart disease. Common streptococcal infections include upper respiratory tract infections, acute tonsillitis, and suppurative tonsillitis. Actively using effective antibiotics to control these infections can greatly reduce the incidence of rheumatic heart disease.
Can rheumatic heart disease be cured completely?
Rheumatic heart disease is primarily a specific type of valvular heart disease caused by the involvement of rheumatic fever affecting the heart valves. This disease can be alleviated through medication and surgical treatments. For asymptomatic rheumatic heart disease, special treatment is generally unnecessary. It is mainly important to avoid excessive fatigue and increased cardiac load. Additionally, avoiding getting a cold and preventing the activity of rheumatic fever are crucial. For cases of rheumatic heart disease that require surgical treatment, it is necessary to assess the heart's function and the condition of the valves to determine if there is an indication for surgery. Options may include mitral valvuloplasty or prosthetic valve replacement. These treatments can relieve the heart failure caused by this cardiac disease, but it is impossible to cure rheumatic heart disease through surgery.
Which department should I visit for rheumatic heart disease?
Patients with rheumatic heart disease need to visit the department of cardiology for diagnosis and treatment. Rheumatic heart disease involves pathological changes in the heart valves and is considered a serious heart condition that can cause complications such as arrhythmias and heart failure, necessitating regular cardiology visits. For complications that arise, a comprehensive analysis is needed, followed by systemic treatment. These patients should rest regularly, properly use medications, adjust their heart rate, improve heart function, and enhance their quality of life.
Do patients with rheumatic heart disease fear catching a cold?
Rheumatic heart disease is mainly caused by infections from hemolytic streptococci, leading to heart valve abnormalities and changes in cardiac function and structure. The condition most commonly affects the mitral valve, resulting in mitral regurgitation. Patients often exhibit symptoms of heart failure. Exposure to cold or catching a cold can exacerbate the burden on the heart, leading to increased cardiac load and worsening symptoms of heart failure. Therefore, patients with rheumatic heart disease are particularly susceptible and fearful of catching colds. It is crucial for these patients to stay warm, use medication promptly when symptoms of a cold appear, and avoid vigorous exercise to prevent an increased cardiac load and potential acute heart failure. (Medication should be taken under the guidance of a doctor.)
How does one get rheumatic heart disease?
Rheumatic heart disease is a type of organic heart disease caused by the body's abnormal reaction to infection with hemolytic streptococcus, leading to valve damage and the occurrence of rheumatic heart disease. It is directly related to upper respiratory tract infections and tonsillitis. To prevent the occurrence of heart disease, it is important to control infections early. Upon the appearance of upper respiratory tract infections, tonsillitis, or tonsillar suppuration, timely selection of effective antibiotics for treatment can control the infection early and prevent the onset of rheumatic heart disease.
What should be avoided with rheumatic heart disease?
Patients with rheumatic heart disease should avoid overexertion and getting angry. Both overexertion and anger can increase the heart's burden, leading to a worsening of the heart disease. Patients should consume easily digestible foods and avoid spicy and greasy foods because these can cause indigestion or gastrointestinal symptoms, which in turn can increase the burden on the heart. A low-salt diet is also recommended; avoid eating overly salty dishes. Consuming foods high in salt can lead to retention of sodium and water in the blood, which increases the heart's burden, and in severe cases, can lead to heart failure.
Can rheumatic heart disease heal itself?
Rheumatic heart disease cannot heal itself, because it is caused by pathological damage to the heart valves, leading to narrowing of the valves and incomplete closure. Through careful treatment and management, clinical symptoms can be alleviated, but it cannot heal itself. Those with rheumatic heart disease must take it seriously, try to reduce the burden on the kidneys, and minimize colds. Eating easily digestible food, reducing the burden on the heart, and adhering to a low-salt, low-fat diet are recommended.
Rheumatic heart disease etiology
Rheumatic heart disease is a type of organic heart disease, often caused by an abnormal immune response following a streptococcal infection, which affects the heart valves, resulting in valvular lesions, leading to stenosis or insufficiency, and posing significant risks to human health, severely impacting physical well-being. To prevent the occurrence of rheumatic heart disease, it is essential to actively control streptococcal infections, commonly including tonsillitis and upper respiratory tract infections. When a streptococcal infection occurs, effective antibiotics should be actively used to control the infection and reduce the incidence of rheumatic heart disease.
Is rheumatic heart disease hereditary?
Rheumatic heart disease is not hereditary, and it is not a genetic disease; it is not directly related to genetics. It is mainly due to an abnormal immune response caused by streptococcal infection, which leads to damage to the heart valves, resulting in stenosis and insufficiency of the heart valves. It is possible to prevent the occurrence of rheumatic heart disease. Very rare rheumatic streptococcal infections can be reduced by using effective antibiotics to control the streptococcal infection. Common diseases that cause streptococcal infections include tonsillitis and upper respiratory tract infections. Once tonsillitis or an upper respiratory tract infection occurs, effective antibiotics should be used to control the infection as soon as possible.