A symphony of strength and fragility, a work where love, life, and suffering collide, can be heard beneath the steady beat of our hearts. This unheard melody is frequently ruined by Rheumatic Heart Disease (RHD), a villain no one knows about.
It creeps up on us and encircles our hearts, transforming the pulse that sustains us into an unexpected threnody. Through this blog, we journey into the heart's darkest recesses, shedding light on RHD's shadowy presence and demonstrating how to improve.
Rheumatic Heart Disease: What Is It?
A condition known as rheumatic heart disease occurs when rheumatic fever permanently damages the heart valves. Following an untreated or ineffectively treated streptococcal infection, such as strep throat or scarlet fever, heart valve degeneration may start.
An immune response-induced inflammatory state can cause persistent valve degeneration. Group A streptococcal (GAS) infections are bacterial disorders that can result in rheumatic fever.
An illness, such as strep throat or scarlet fever, trigger your body's immune reaction. In addition to other body components, the heart is irritated by it. If left untreated, inflammation can result in serious health problems and irreversible damage to heart valves.
The first sign of rheumatic heart disease is the bacterium Streptococcus pyogenes (group A streptococcus), which causes sore throats and is easily contagious like other upper respiratory tract infections. Children are the ones that contract strep infections most often.
People who experience recurrent strep infections may develop immune systems that attack physiological structures, including the heart valves, leading to inflammation and cardiac harm. What is indicated by this is rheumatic fever. Therefore, rheumatic heart disease is brought on by heart valve inflammation and scarring brought on by rheumatic fever.
Rheumatic Heart Disease Causes
The underlying cause of rheumatic heart disease is rheumatic fever, an inflammatory disorder that can harm many connective tissues, particularly in the heart, joints, skin, or brain.
The heart valves may irritate and suffer damage over time. This can make it more challenging for the heart to function normally by causing the heart valve to tighten or leak. This could result in heart failure, which could take years to appear.
Anyone can have rheumatic fever at any age, but children between the ages of 5 and 15 are the ones who get it the most commonly.
When rheumatic fever strikes once or again, the heart valves become hard, deformed, and gradually fibrosis, which results in rheumatic heart disease. After two to three decades, valvular stenosis and regurgitation manifest.
The mitral valve is typically affected in roughly 50–60% of patients with rheumatic heart disease. Aortic and mitral valve problems impact about 20% of patients. About 10% of instances involve the tricuspid valve, frequently when mitral or aortic illness is already present. Rarely is the pulmonary valve impacted.
Rheumatic Heart Disease Diagnosis
Patients with rheumatic heart disease frequently have or recently have strep infections. A blood test or throat culture may be used to check for strep. A murmur or rub may be discovered during a routine medical examination. The murmur is brought on by blood leaking from the injured valve's vicinity. Movement or contact between the inflamed heart tissues causes the rub.
Rheumatic heart disease can be identified using the following tests in addition to a comprehensive medical history and physical examination:
1. Echocardiogram
Sound waves inspect the heart chambers and valves during this technique. Echo sound waves create an image that may be seen on a screen as an ultrasound transducer is moved over the skin around the heart.
On an echo one can notice enlarged hearts fluid surrounding the heart damaged valve flaps and leaking valves. It is the most reliable test for detecting heart valve problems.
2. Electrocardiogram (ECG)
The heart electrical activity is timed, and intensity is recorded during this test. It shows abnormal heartbeats (arrhythmias or dysrhythmias) and might spot cardiac muscle damage on rare occasions. Tiny sensors are attached to your skin all over your body to monitor electrical activity.
3. Chest X-ray
An X-ray may be performed to check your heart size and inspect your lungs.
4. Cardiovascular MRI
The heart is imaged in great detail during this imaging technique. It might be used to inspect the heart muscle and valves closely.
5. Blood Examinations
To assess for inflammation and infection, specific blood tests can be run.
The Final Say
Inflammation in the heart is the cause of rheumatic heart disease. Inflammation is the body immune system response to an untreated bacterial infection. Over time, it damages your heart valves and reduces blood flow. Rheumatic heart disease can lead to heart failure.
The cardiology department of the Bansal Hospital in Bhopal offers the city's best Rheumatic heart disease treatment. Visit if you experience any heart emergencies.
About Bansal Hospital
Bansal Hospital is a multispeciality hospital and is one of the leading, reputable and reliable healthcare providers trusted by patients and their families across the region. It has all the central departments, including cardiology, neurology, oncology, orthopaedics, gastroenterology, urology, liver transplant, bone marrow transplantation, nephrology, gynaecology and more. The hospital is equipped with state-of-the-art facilities and technology. It has a team of highly qualified and experienced doctors and medical staff who provide round-the-clock care to the patient.
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