This condition is caused by damage to the heart valves from rheumatic fever, an inflammatory disease that usually affects children.
Strep throat is a common cause of rheumatoid arthritis, which affects many parts of the body. Your heart doctor will conduct a physical examination and perform tests such as an X-ray and an EKG to check for heart damage.
Rheumatic heart disease can develop following an infection of the pharynx with beta-hemolytic streptococcal bacteria.
Rheumatic fever can damage the heart valves, resulting in rheumatic heart disease. Your body’s inflammatory response to a bacterial infection is the cause of a fever. Children in poor countries who lack access to antibiotics are at the greatest risk of developing antibiotic-resistant infections. Severe health problems, such as heart failure, can result from the condition.
Medicine and surgery are the primary methods of treating the disease. Visit Doral Health & Wellness to be seen by the best cardiologists in Brooklyn, N.Y.
Who is at risk for rheumatic heart disease?
Untreated or under-treated strep infections can increase the risk of rheumatic heart disease. Children who get repeated strep throat infections are at the highest risk for rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease.
Symptoms of rheumatic fever include:
- A fever is also a common symptom of a viral infection.
- Painless nodules under the skin near joints and/or a rash consisting of pink rings with a clear center are some of the symptoms that can be associated with chorea (both rare).
- A faint heartbeat
Rheumatic heart disease-related heart valve damage can cause the following symptoms:
- Chest discomfort or pain
- Fatigue
- Shortness of breath
- Swollen abdomen
- Rapid or irregular heartbeat
What is the treatment for rheumatic heart disease?
Damage to the heart valves caused by rheumatic heart disease is irreversible. Valve replacement or repair may be necessary in patients with severe rheumatic disease. Depending on the severity of the disease, medication may be required to treat symptoms of heart failure or abnormal heart rhythms.
A blood thinner may be required to lessen the risk of blood clots. Surgery to repair or replace heart valves may be necessary in cases of severe disease.
Many low-income communities don’t have access to these services, or if they do, the costs can be prohibitive for families who don’t have national health insurance, placing them under even more financial stress.
It is possible to avoid rheumatic heart disease.
Because rheumatic heart disease is linked to rheumatic fever, preventing it is an important strategy. Treating strep throat with antibiotics will prevent rheumatoid arthritis in the long run.
Rheumatic heart diseases, obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and high blood sugar all have an impact on the health of your heart. Smoking also has a negative impact on the health of the heart. To put it another way, heart health is closely linked to one’s overall well-being.
Make an appointment with a Doral Health cardiologist today so that you can get the best care from the best doctors in Brooklyn, NY. Visit Doral Health & Wellness Cardiology Clinic at 1797 Pitkin Avenue Brooklyn, New York 11212. In order to schedule a meeting, please call 1-347-384-5690 or visit https://cardiologistbrooklyn.com/.