Can rheumatic heart disease be cured completely?

Written by Wang Lei
Cardiology
Updated on September 17, 2024
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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.

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Written by Zhang Yue Mei
Cardiology
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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.

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Written by Di Zhi Yong
Cardiology
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Rheumatic heart disease can be relieved by massaging which areas?

Since rheumatic heart disease is a type of valvular disease, especially mitral regurgitation or mitral stenosis, these can lead to rheumatic heart disease. Pathological murmurs can also be heard in the precordial area. The treatment of rheumatic heart disease is primarily pharmacological. If the condition is severe, surgical treatment can be used, but massage is not recommended. Because sometimes massage can exacerbate symptoms and does not alleviate the patient's condition, I personally suggest that it is better not to massage. In treating rheumatic heart disease, if the condition is severe, or the defect area is relatively large, sometimes it is advisable to consider surgical treatment for the patient, but pharmacological treatment can also relieve symptoms.

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Written by Wang Lei
Cardiology
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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.

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Written by Wang Lei
Cardiology
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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.)

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Written by Xie Zhi Hong
Cardiology
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Does rheumatic heart disease cause bloating?

Rheumatic heart disease can cause stomach bloating. The main reason is that if the patient has severe tricuspid regurgitation, it can lead to right heart failure, causing congestion in the gastrointestinal tract. This leads to a decrease in appetite and a feeling of stomach bloating. Additionally, some heart disease patients are treated for heart failure with large amounts of diuretics, causing electrolyte disorders, such as low sodium or low potassium levels. Patients often exhibit symptoms of stomach bloating, and even nausea, vomiting, and increased fatigue. Thus, rheumatic heart disease can cause stomach bloating.