Rheumatic Heart Disease is no Longer a Threat to the Industrialized World

Almost hundred years ago, rheumatic heart disease meant death, and was the cause of the deaths of many between the age of five and twenty in the U.S. Those days, hospitals mainly focused on treating children who experienced rheumatic fever. Gladly, nowadays the scenario is different and because of modern science a proper diagnosis and treatment is readily available, at least in the industrially advanced nations of the world.

Diseases Affecting Heart Valves

Undoubtedly, rheumatic heart disease leads to damage of the heart valves, seventy-nine percent specifically in the adult population of the United States. The remaining twenty-one percent effects of this condition are arthrosclerosis and congenital defects.

There is no doubt in the fact that rheumatic heart disease takes place because of chronic rheumatoid fever complications. When the case is more chronic around five and thirty million children and young adults suffering from this condition and most of them are reported to be among the poorer nations of the world.

Anti-inflammatory medications like corticosteroids and aspirin can be used to prevent rheumatoid fever, which should be the major concern for doctors. According to certain researches made by the National Institute of Health, around three percent of untreated strep throat cases can develop rheumatic heart disease.

Early diagnosis and treatment of the strep throat infection can prevent rheumatic heart disease. Sadly, people who live in the poorer countries do not have any access to proper health care services, and so end up becoming victims of this disease. However, lifestyle changes, maintenance of a healthy diet, keeping a check on your weight, as well as regular exercising greatly reduce the risk of developing rheumatic heart disease.

The condition known as chronic rheumatic heart disease is defined as the remaining and the progressive malformation of heart valves and about nine to thirty-nine percent of adults who have had rheumatic heart disease are prone to experiencing this condition. The rheumatic heart disease threats can be reduced by quitting smoking, exercising regularly, and by maintaining a healthy diet.