Rheumatic heart disease usually starts with throat discomfort due to the bacteria Streptococcus, which can spread quickly from one individual to another, similar to other infections of the upper respiratory system. Persistent strep infections can make some people’s immune systems attack bodily tissues, including the heart valves, causing inflammation and damage. As a result, rheumatic fever-induced cardiac valve enlargement and thickening are the causes of rheumatic heart disease.
Introduction:
Rheumatic heart disease refers to rheumatic fever-induced inflammation of the cardiovascular system’s valves. Genus Streptococcal (GAS) infections are bacterial disorders that can result in rheumatic fever. An infection, like strep throat or scarlet fever, triggers your body’s immune reaction. It causes inflammation in the heart as well as other parts of the body. When left untreated, aggravation can result in serious health problems and permanent harm to cardiovascular valves.
Adolescents and kids in countries with low or middle incomes are most commonly affected by rheumatic fever, particularly in areas with high rates of poverty and inadequate access to healthcare. The disease is most likely to affect those who live in cramped, unsanitary settings. The main heart condition found in pregnant women when rheumatic fever and rheumatic disease are common is rheumatic heart disease, which causes severe maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality.
Causes:
Rheumatic fever, a condition characterized by inflammation that can damage numerous connective tissues, particularly in the cardiovascular system, joints, skin, or brain, is the root cause of rheumatic heart disease. The cardiovascular system’s lobes might become inflamed and suffer deterioration gradually. This can make it more challenging for the cardiovascular system to function normally by causing the valves inside the heart to tighten or leak. Inflammation might end up in cardiovascular disease, which might take decades to appear.
The harm can happen right away. Alternatively, it might come about gradually due to recurring infections caused by strep. The cardiovascular valve becomes scarred and constricted due to ongoing swelling. The mitral or aortic valves within the heart are typically affected by the condition. Blood flow is governed by these valves. Blood flows retrogradely into the heart if the valves are malfunctioning, as opposed to flowing through the heart.
Signs and Symptoms:
A streptococcal attack or rheumatic fever may cause rheumatic heart disease symptoms to take years to manifest. People who have a cardiac injury could go through:
- Ache in the chest.
- Heart flutter.
- Respiration difficulty.
- Swelling of the hands, feet, or stomach.
Diagnosis of Rheumatic Heart Disease:
After analyzing your signs and symptoms (or those of your child, if that youngster has the disease), obtaining a medical history, and performing a thorough physical examination, your doctor will make a diagnosis of rheumatic heart disease. The rheumatic disease cannot be detected with a specialized test. As the first step, determine whether you have ever had a strep infection. If the infection was recent, a throat culture and/or blood test may be able to detect strep antibodies. Antibody production will be lost if too much time has elapsed, and the doctor will then rely on your recall of previous illnesses. Tests that look for damage to your heart include:
Homeopathic Treatment for Rheumatic Heart Disease:
By easing the patient’s current problem, homeopathy assists in treating rheumatic heart disease. Homeopathy treats the patient as a whole; hence, it’s crucial to take homeopathic treatment by traversing the entire case-taking procedure in order to choose the best similimum. A person’s immunity is strengthened via homeopathy, which enables him to combat disease conditions.
- When someone has palpitations, discomfort, or dyspnea, Arsenicum Album is quite helpful. For those who smoke cigarettes or chew tobacco, this is beneficial if they have rheumatic heart disease.
- Aurum Met is used when there is chest pain and a two- to three-second feeling that the heart has stopped beating. Excellent for rheumatoid arthritis and hypertension
- Cactus Grandiflorus is effective for treating heartache that has a feeling of constriction. Additionally, it is helpful for low blood pressure and vertigo.
Depending on the kind of heart injury you have, you may need additional treatment. The optimal course of treatment for you and your situation will be decided upon after talking over your options with your doctor. By being aware of and in control of your blood pressure, diabetes, and blood cholesterol levels, you can reduce your chance of developing other heart conditions and stroke.
Pregnant women are especially vulnerable to rheumatic heart disease. Your body has more blood when you’re pregnant. Pumping the additional blood requires more effort from your heart. When pregnant, a person with defective heart valves may experience major health problems. The developing child’s well-being is additionally in jeopardy. Regarding significant rheumatic heart disease, valve replacement surgery can be required.
Complications:
The following are a few rheumatic heart disease side effects:
- A heart attack. A significantly constricted or leaking heart valve may be the cause of this.
- Endocarditis due to bacteria. This infection affects the heart’s inner lining and can happen after rheumatic fever damages the heart valves.
- Heart damage-related complications during pregnancy and delivery. Before becoming pregnant, women experiencing rheumatic disease ought to speak to their doctor about their condition.
- Defective cardiac valve. Surgery to either repair or replace the heart valve is necessary to treat this medical emergency.
Precautions:
Rheumatic fever, which is the cause of rheumatic heart disease, can be avoided by adopting measures to avoid strep infections. Regular appointments with the doctor can aid in the early identification and avoidance of strep infection, and medications should be used as prescribed by the medical professional to manage strep transmission. To prevent any infectious disease, maintaining hygiene should be prioritized. When a streptococcal infection first appears, antibiotics should be used to prevent rheumatic disease. Consult a medical professional if you or your child have:
- Jerky, uncontrollable muscle movements are known as chorea.
- Joint discomfort.
- Muscle ache.
- Throat pain.
- Tonsils that have swelled