Can rheumatic heart disease cause angina?

Written by Xie Zhi Hong
Cardiology
Updated on March 31, 2025
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Rheumatic heart disease most commonly manifests as rheumatic myocarditis, pericardial thickening, or pericardial effusion. The majority of patients also present with mitral valve stenosis and insufficiency, and some also have aortic valve stenosis and insufficiency. When patients have severe aortic valve stenosis or severe aortic valve insufficiency, it leads to insufficient blood supply from the aorta, causing inadequate coronary circulation, which then can lead to angina.

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Written by Xie Zhi Hong
Cardiology
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The difference between rheumatic heart disease and myocarditis

Rheumatic heart disease refers to changes in the heart and heart valves caused by a disruption in the body's immune system following infection by Group A Streptococcus. Some also exhibit signs of heart inflammation and pericardial effusion, commonly presenting mitral stenosis, aortic valve stenosis or insufficiency, and tricuspid valve insufficiency. Myocarditis, on the other hand, refers to direct invasion of the heart muscle by viruses or bacteria, leading to heart muscle damage and cardiac dysfunction. Some cases present with arrhythmias, while others exhibit heart failure or shock, which can be severe enough to cause death. Generally, rheumatic heart disease has a longer course of illness, whereas myocarditis tends to improve within about two weeks. However, fulminant myocarditis has a high mortality rate, often accompanied by symptoms of heart failure, and some patients may suffer from long-term arrhythmias as a complication.

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Written by Zhang Yue Mei
Cardiology
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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.

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Written by Di Zhi Yong
Cardiology
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What to do about systemic edema in rheumatic heart disease?

If the patient has rheumatic heart disease, the current treatment mainly focuses on symptomatic treatment. If the patient experiences generalized edema, it may be due to sodium and water retention causing the swelling. In this case, some diuretics can be used to reduce the workload on the heart and improve symptoms. It is recommended that the patient be hospitalized. During this period, some cardiac diuretics can be used to alleviate symptoms. If heart failure is corrected in time, such edema can be reduced. Active symptomatic treatment is still necessary to mitigate the patient's current condition, but during this period, it is also important to monitor changes in the patient's heart rate and blood pressure.

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Written by Fan Yan Fu
Cardiology
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Can people with rheumatic heart disease eat raw onions?

Patients with heart disease must undergo lifestyle modification treatments before some specific treatments, which is a priority. What does improving lifestyle include? It includes appropriate exercise according to the patient's condition, a rational diet, a pleasant mental state, and adequate sleep, which are lifestyle practices adopted by all heart disease patients. A rational diet includes a certain amount of carbohydrates, a variety of fruits, vegetables, and more. As long as these are healthy dietary foods and the patient is not allergic and can tolerate them, they can be consumed. Can patients with rheumatic heart disease eat onions? Yes, they can. First of all, onions are just a type of food. As long as the patient does not have stomach diseases and can tolerate spicy foods, they can eat onions. Onions themselves do not have any special effects; they are simply a vegetable with a spicy taste. They might stimulate appetite, and when appetite is poor, using them may help increase it. Onions do not possess any special effects; they are merely a vegetable and can be consumed if tolerated.

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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.