What causes rheumatic heart disease? Hemolytic streptococcal infection

Rheumatic heart disease is also common among young and middle-aged people. Patients will experience palpitations, susceptibility to colds, shortness of breath and loss of appetite after minor activities. Common causes of rheumatic heart disease are hemolytic streptococcal infection and frequent inhalation of secondhand smoke.

1. Causes of Rheumatic Heart Disease

1. Streptococcus (25%):

Streptococcus is a very common pathogenic bacteria. It is a spherical bacteria arranged in chains and usually lives in the respiratory tract. This bacteria is normally in equilibrium with the human body, hiding like an undercover agent, which is also the cause of rheumatic heart disease.

2. Secondhand smoke (12%):

Secondhand smoke is particularly harmful to people. When people inhale secondhand smoke for more than 30 minutes, the risk of heart disease will increase by 26% compared to normal people. So please don't smoke or be around people who smoke.

3. Mental factors (10%):

Excessive mental stress is one of the most common causes of rheumatic heart disease. Friends who are under great mental stress need to meditate for 20 minutes every day, or do some activities that they find relaxing, so as to reduce their inner anxiety.

4. Decreased immunity (28%):

Normally, the reproduction of bacteria and the body's resistance are in a delicate balance. When the resistance is strong, no adverse symptoms will appear. When factors such as colds, chills, and fatigue cause the body's resistance to decline, the streptococci become active, turning from latent to proliferating, and producing many toxic substances to the human body.

2. Clinically, according to the degree of disease progression, there are mainly the following manifestations:

1. Palpitations and shortness of breath after activities, even dyspnea, sitting up for breath, and inability to lie flat at night;

2. Coughing and bloody sputum occur after slight activities or fatigue, and it is easy to catch a cold;

3. Loss of appetite, which means that you have not eaten well for a period of time. Gastrointestinal blood stasis may lead to poor digestion and abdominal bloating. Decreased urine volume, lower limb edema, abdominal distension, ascites, enlarged liver and spleen, etc.;

4. Most patients have purple-red cheekbones and lips, which is called "mitral valve face";

5. Palpitations are often caused by atrial fibrillation or arrhythmia. Rapid atrial fibrillation causes patients to feel uncomfortable and even have difficulty breathing or make it worse, prompting patients to seek medical attention. Atrial fibrillation is also the main cause of atrial thrombus and even stroke in patients;

6. Chest pain. Chest pain caused by simple valvular disease is generally not effective with nitroglycerin.