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Rheumatic heart disease
Is rheumatic heart disease considered a serious illness?
In the case of rheumatic heart disease, it spans different stages of the disease. In its early stage, it can affect the heart valves to a certain extent. However, this impact may progressively worsen over time. Thus, the initial effects on the heart are not severe. Once it causes mitral valve regurgitation, patients often exhibit clear symptoms, such as chest tightness and shortness of breath after activity, and in severe cases, pulmonary edema, coughing, and expectoration of bloody sputum. Severe cases can lead to nocturnal insomnia and orthopnea, presenting with paroxysmal breathing difficulties. These symptoms indicate cardiac function failure, a serious condition. Therefore, inadequate or delayed treatment can be life-threatening.
Rheumatic heart disease contraindications
Patients with rheumatic heart disease must avoid emotional excitement, as it can lead to an increased heart rate and an increased burden on the heart. They must also avoid overexertion, as it can exacerbate heart failure, and a high-salt diet, as consuming too much salt can lead to an increased fluid volume, worsening heart burden and potentially inducing or worsening heart failure. Patients with rheumatic heart disease should generally maintain a pleasant mood, rest adequately, avoid overexertion, eat light and easily digestible foods, and have a high-protein diet. They should also avoid cold and prevent colds to avoid worsening the burden on the heart and the symptoms of heart failure.
What should be noted for rheumatic heart disease?
Rheumatic heart disease is caused by valvular pathology and often affects heart function. It is important to rest regularly, avoid overexertion, wear more clothing to prevent colds, and avoid exposure to cold winds. Each occurrence of a cold can exacerbate rheumatic heart disease. Dietary attention should focus on easily digestible, high-nutrient foods. Avoid consuming spicy and greasy foods, as they can lead to indigestion and gastrointestinal irritation, which can worsen symptoms of heart disease and increase the cardiac burden, bringing about adverse factors for the patient.
Can rheumatic heart disease be cured?
There are many clinical treatment methods for rheumatic heart disease, which can improve the quality of life and clinical symptoms of patients with rheumatic heart disease through dietary therapy, but cannot cure it, as rheumatic heart disease involves pathological changes in the valves. Currently, surgery is commonly used in the clinic to treat rheumatic heart disease, to improve the patient's quality of life, enhance cardiac comfort, and improve heart function. Therefore, patients with rheumatic heart disease should not overly rely on folk remedies for a cure, need to pay attention to rest, avoid overexertion to prevent increasing the cardiac burden, and treatment should be under the guidance of a doctor, using different medications according to individual characteristics.
Can patients with rheumatic heart disease eat spicy food?
Patients with rheumatic heart disease should not consume spicy foods, including chili peppers. Chili peppers are considered heat-inducing foods that can cause an increase in heart rate, thereby exacerbating the burden on the heart. They can also irritate the gastrointestinal tract and worsen the clinical symptoms of rheumatic heart disease. Patients with rheumatic heart disease should focus on a diet that is bland, easy to digest, and high in vitamins, fiber, and quality protein. They should avoid spicy and greasy foods, consume fewer nuts, and eat more vegetables, which can help alleviate symptoms and reduce the burden on the heart.
Rheumatic Heart Disease Concept
Rheumatic heart disease is a type of organic heart disease caused by a hypersensitivity reaction in the body due to infection by Streptococcus pyogenes. This leads to pathological changes in the heart valves, including the tricuspid and mitral valves, resulting in stenosis or insufficiency which affects hemodynamics. This condition is known as rheumatic heart disease. Patients with rheumatic heart disease should actively seek treatment under the guidance of a doctor in the early stages to control the occurrence of complications.