Is rheumatic heart disease serious?

Written by Zhang Yue Mei
Cardiology
Updated on September 14, 2024
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Rheumatic heart disease is a type of organic heart disease caused by an abnormal immune response, leading to pathological changes in the heart valves, which pose significant risks to the body. Due to valve insufficiency or stenosis, rheumatic heart disease causes changes in hemodynamics, leading to heart failure and pulmonary edema. These are severe conditions for patients and require timely treatment and correction. If effective dietary therapy is not administered, especially for pulmonary edema, it can be life-threatening.

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Written by Zhang Yue Mei
Cardiology
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Can people with heart disease drink alcohol?

Patients with heart disease should not drink alcohol, especially those with severe heart conditions, including heart failure and arrhythmias. Drinking alcohol can excite the sympathetic nervous system, increase heart rate, enhance myocardial oxygen consumption, increase cardiac burden, and worsen arrhythmias and heart failure. Additionally, patients with organic heart disease who regularly require medication should avoid alcohol. Alcohol can chemically interact with certain medications or reduce their effectiveness, potentially harming the body.

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Written by Zhang Yue Mei
Cardiology
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Is rheumatic heart disease serious?

Rheumatic heart disease is a type of organic heart disease caused by an abnormal immune response, leading to pathological changes in the heart valves, which pose significant risks to the body. Due to valve insufficiency or stenosis, rheumatic heart disease causes changes in hemodynamics, leading to heart failure and pulmonary edema. These are severe conditions for patients and require timely treatment and correction. If effective dietary therapy is not administered, especially for pulmonary edema, it can be life-threatening.

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Written by Li Tao
Pulmonology
1min 6sec home-news-image

Is pulmonary heart disease serious?

Cor pulmonale refers to the disease characterized by changes in the structure and function of the right ventricle due to increased pressure resistance in the pulmonary vessels, caused by abnormalities in the bronchopulmonary tissue, thoracic cage, pulmonary vessels, etc., ultimately leading to pulmonary arterial hypertension. Common symptoms of cor pulmonale observed clinically include coughing, production of phlegm, shortness of breath, chest tightness after activity, and difficulty breathing. Some individuals may experience respiratory failure and symptoms of heart failure. The severity of cor pulmonale depends firstly on the underlying causes of the disease. For instance, conditions like pulmonary embolism and pulmonary hypertension generally have a poorer and more serious prognosis. Secondly, extensive lung infections leading to a loss of cardiopulmonary compensation, resulting in respiratory failure and heart failure, typically indicate a more severe condition.

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Written by Li Tao
Pulmonology
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How is cor pulmonale treated?

Cor pulmonale refers to the disease characterized by increased pulmonary vascular resistance due to pathological changes in the bronchi, lung tissue, thorax, or pulmonary vessels, leading to pulmonary arterial pressure and subsequently causing changes in the structure and function of the right ventricle. When cor pulmonale occurs, treatment is generally divided into the acute exacerbation phase where active control of infections, clearing of the airways, improvement of respiratory function, correction of hypoxia and carbon dioxide retention, control of respiratory failure and acute heart failure, and management of complications are emphasized. During the chronic remission phase, the goal is to enhance the patient's immune function, eliminate triggering factors, reduce or avoid the occurrence of acute exacerbations, and partially or fully restore cardiopulmonary function.

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Written by Li Tao
Pulmonology
1min 5sec home-news-image

Manifestations of Cor Pulmonale

Cor pulmonale refers to a disease characterized by changes in heart structure and function due to increased pulmonary vascular resistance caused by pathological conditions of the bronchi, lungs, thoracic cage, or pulmonary vessels, leading to pulmonary arterial hypertension. This condition is collectively known as cor pulmonale. The clinical manifestations of cor pulmonale generally develop slowly. Clinically, in addition to pulmonary and pleural symptoms, there gradually appear signs of pulmonary cardiac failure and damage to other organs. Common symptoms include coughing, expectoration, palpitations, dyspnea, fatigue, decreased endurance to physical activity. In the decompensated stage, symptoms such as worsening dyspnea, headaches, insomnia, decreased appetite, and even some signs of right heart failure like palpitations, poor appetite, abdominal bloating, nausea, and swelling of the lower limbs may occur.