Rheumatic Heart Disease: How Timely Treatment Can Save Your Heart

Millions of individuals – primarily children and young adults – suffer in silence each year from a condition that could have been prevented. Rheumatic heart disease is one of the most serious conditions that can begin with something as simple as a sore throat and result in lifelong heart damage. Outrageous, isn’t it?

According to WHO statistics, more than 55 million people around the world have had rheumatic heart disease, and the condition claims almost 360,000 lives every year. The majority of these cases occur in areas with poor access to basic healthcare and antibiotics. The truth is that this condition can largely be avoided with early treatment and education.

So, in this blog, we’re going to demystify what rheumatic heart disease is, how it develops, how it presents, what causes it, what complications can arise, and – most importantly – how it can be treated early. If you are experiencing similar symptoms, you can consult our Cardiologist in Kolkata at BM Birla Hospital.

What is rheumatic heart disease?

Rheumatic heart disease is a complication of untreated or poorly treated Group A Streptococcus infections, such as strep throat or scarlet fever. The untimely treatment of the infection may lead to rheumatic fever, an inflammatory reaction that attacks the heart.

Such damage tends to damage the heart valves, including mitral and aortic valves. The valves can end up scarred, stiff or leaky. The damage can be irreversible and cause chronic rheumatic heart disease with time.

While often silent in its early stages, rheumatic heart disease symptoms eventually surface, especially as valve damage progresses. Failing to take the condition under control, it can result in heart failure, stroke, or even death.

Types of Rheumatic Heart Disease

The type and severity of rheumatic heart disease depend on which valves are affected and how severely.

1. Mitral Valve Stenosis

• The mitral valve narrows, blocking blood flow.
• It leads to breathlessness and fatigue.

2. Mitral Valve Regurgitation

• The valve does not close fully.
• Blood leaks back into the atrium.

3. Aortic Valve Damage

• The aortic valve becomes leaky or narrow.
• This may cause chest pain or fainting.

4. Combined Valve Disease

• In some cases, multiple valves are damaged, complicating treatment.

These forms of damage are common outcomes in chronic rheumatic heart disease, particularly in patients who had repeated or severe episodes of rheumatic fever.

What are the signs and symptoms of rheumatic heart disease?

Rheumatic heart disease symptoms can vary depending on the extent of valve damage. Some may appear years after an initial strep infection. Watch out for these warning signs:

• Shortness of breath, especially during activity
• Chest pain or tightness
• Fatigue or weakness
• Swelling in legs, ankles, or abdomen
• Rapid or irregular heartbeat
• Heart murmur detected during check-up
• Dizziness or fainting spells
• Persistent cough or coughing up blood

These symptoms should never be ignored. They could signal underlying valve problems or early complications of rheumatic heart disease.

What are the causes of rheumatic heart disease?

The primary cause of rheumatic heart disease is an abnormal immune reaction to a Group A Streptococcus infection, often a sore throat or skin infection.

When untreated, the body’s immune system can mistakenly attack its own tissues, particularly the heart, joints, and nervous system. The resulting inflammation, especially in the heart valves, may cause scarring and lead to long-term damage.

Main risk factors include:

• Repeated strep throat infections
• Living in overcrowded conditions
• Limited access to antibiotics or healthcare
• Poor sanitation and hygiene
• Lack of awareness about early treatment

Rheumatic heart disease causes are preventable, which makes awareness and early treatment critical for at-risk communities.

Treatment options for rheumatic heart disease

Although rheumatic heart disease treatment cannot reverse existing valve damage, it can reduce symptoms, slow disease progression, and prevent complications.

1. Medication

• Antibiotics: Long-term penicillin injections prevent repeat strep infections.
• Anti-inflammatory medicines: Help during active rheumatic fever.
• Heart failure medication: Diuretics, beta-blockers, and ACE inhibitors are common.
• Anticoagulants: Used when there’s a risk of clot formation.

2. Monitoring and Follow-Up

• Regular echocardiograms check valve function.
• Blood tests monitor inflammation.
• Routine check-ups help detect complications of rheumatic heart disease early.

3. Surgery or Valve Procedures

• Balloon valvuloplasty: Opens narrowed valves.
• Valve repair: Preferred when the valve can be preserved.
• Valve replacement: Mechanical or tissue valves used in severe cases.

Advanced rheumatic heart disease treatment often requires surgery. Unfortunately, in many developing regions, access to these services is still limited, making early intervention even more crucial.

Complications of Rheumatic Heart Disease

If not treated early, RHD can lead to life-threatening complications:

• Heart failure: Due to long-term valve dysfunction
• Arrhythmias: Irregular heartbeat, especially atrial fibrillation
• Stroke: Caused by blood clots due to valve issues
• Infective endocarditis: Infection of damaged valves
• Pregnancy risks: Women with RHD face high complications during pregnance

These complications of rheumatic heart disease not only reduce quality of life but can also significantly shorten lifespan.

Prevention of Rheumatic Heart Disease

The best way to fight RHD is to prevent it before it begins.

1. Primary Prevention

• Early diagnosis and treatment of strep throat using antibiotics
• Public education about symptoms and timely care

2. Secondary Prevention

• Long-term antibiotic therapy in those who’ve had rheumatic fever
• Regular health check-ups for early signs of valve damage

In the prevention of rheumatic heart disease, it is necessary to improve sanitation, lower the overcrowding, and get access to healthcare, particularly in low-resource settings.

Final Words 

Rheumatic heart disease is one of the diseases that sounds complicated, but the point is when you take care of a sore throat with time, it is the beginning of the solution. Do not ignore symptoms such as soreness of breathing, chest pain, or exhaustion. Prompt diagnosis and treatment may prevent lifelong heart damage.

In case you reside in an area where RHD prevails, inform yourself and encourage others to do so. With the right antibiotics, periodic treatment and consciousness, we can almost eliminate the effects of this disease.

Bear in mind, rheumatic heart disease is an aftereffect of infection which is curable. We can save lives by taking action early in order to save our hearts.

FAQs

How long can you live with rheumatic heart disease?

With early treatment and regular checks, a good number of patients with rheumatic heart disease can survive to live for several decades. It all depends on how damaged the valves are and the availability of treatment to determine the life expectancy.

What are the risk factors of rheumatic heart disease?

The most important risk factors are the presence of untreated strep throat, repeated infections, lack of hygiene, overcrowded living conditions, and limited access to healthcare.

How is rheumatic heart disease diagnosed?

Among the examinations it is diagnosed with are a physical exam, echocardiogram, electrocardiogram (ECG), chest X-ray, and blood tests, which determine whether the valves are damaged and inflamed.

Can rheumatic heart disease be prevented?

Yes, infections can be prevented through effective treatment of strep throat at low stages using antibiotics and the application of long-term prophylaxis on individuals with past incidences of rheumatic fever.

Is rheumatic heart disease curable?

The rheumatic heart disease is incurable, but with appropriate and effective treatment, it is possible to control the symptoms and prevent complications.

What complications can arise from rheumatic heart disease?

Side effects can be heart failure, arrhythmias, stroke, infective endocarditis, and pregnancy-related risks.