Rheumatic Heart Disease: Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatment & Prevention
Rheumatic Heart Disease: Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatment, and Prevention What You Need to Know About the Heart Disease That Begins With a Common Infection Rheumatic heart disease (RHD) develops after an abnormal immune response to Group A Streptococcus (GAS) infection. Although the infection usually resolves with antibiotics, some individuals develop acute rheumatic fever, which can permanently damage the heart valves. Over time, repeated inflammation can cause: Thickening of heart valves Valve narrowing (stenosis) Valve leakage (regurgitation) Heart enlargement Heart failure What Are the Symptoms of Rheumatic Heart Disease? Symptoms of RHD depend on how much damage has occurred to the heart valves. Early stages may have few or no symptoms. As valve damage progresses, symptoms may include: Shortness of breath Reduced ability of the heart to pump blood efficiently can cause difficulty breathing, especially during exercise. Chest discomfort Inflammation and...