Do patients with rheumatic heart disease fear catching a cold?

Written by Wang Lei
Cardiology
Updated on September 14, 2024
00:00
00:00

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.)

Other Voices

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Di Zhi Yong
Cardiology
44sec home-news-image

What to do about rheumatic heart disease joint pain?

If the patient has a history of rheumatoid arthritis or rheumatic heart disease, symptomatic treatment is primarily used in their treatment. If the patient experiences joint pain, it is suggested that they can use some non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) to control their symptoms. Another approach is to recommend Chinese herbal medicine treatments, including acupuncture and massage to relieve joint pain. Since rheumatic heart disease mainly manifests as a cardiac condition, particularly when the patient experiences palpitations and chest tightness, it is crucial to actively manage these symptoms using cardioprotective drugs or positive inotropic drugs to improve cardiac function.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Zhang Yue Mei
Cardiology
36sec home-news-image

What to eat to supplement for rheumatic heart disease?

Rheumatic heart disease often occurs in people with lower resistance, making them susceptible to colds and fevers. Their diet should include foods that enhance immune and disease resistance, such as lean meats, fish, and seafood, which are high in protein, along with milk and eggs. Eating fruits that are rich in vitamins and fibers, like apples, avocados, oranges, and dried fruits, as well as consuming more vegetables, can strengthen the body's resistance and provide various vitamins and trace elements needed by the human body.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Zhang Yue Mei
Cardiology
48sec home-news-image

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.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Zhang Yue Mei
Cardiology
38sec home-news-image

Can rheumatic heart disease be inherited?

Rheumatic heart disease is not hereditary and it is not a genetic disease. Rheumatic heart disease is a hypersensitivity disease caused by an infection, especially following a streptococcal infection. This type of infection leads to the body producing antibodies. In some individuals, these antibodies combine with antigens, causing inflammation of the collagen tissue and affecting the heart. This results in inflammatory lesions on the heart valves, causing the valves to become narrowed or fail to close completely, leading to pathological changes known as rheumatic heart disease.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Di Zhi Yong
Cardiology
43sec home-news-image

Is the rheumatoid factor high in rheumatic heart disease?

If the patient has rheumatic heart disease, especially mitral regurgitation or mitral stenosis, this condition can occur. However, the rheumatoid factor may not necessarily be high, as the rheumatoid factor can lead to some cases of rheumatic heart disease, but it is not always elevated. Because this condition cannot be improved even with aggressive treatment, sometimes surgical treatment may still be needed. This is a type of congenital heart disease that can cause these conditions in patients. Rheumatic heart disease is mainly characterized by chest tightness, difficulty breathing, and a booming or mechanical murmur in the precordial area, all of which can occur, but the rheumatoid factor is not necessarily high.