You Are Not Too Young To Be Susceptible To Rheumatic Heart Disease

By Dr. (Prof.) Purshotam Lal in Rheumatology

Aug 31, 2020

Young people around the world seem to be of the opinion that they are too young to be susceptible to heart diseases. The majority of us consider heart diseases to be either old age-related problems or a heart condition caused by sudden shocks (thanks to the movies and soap operas). However, the fact is that the number of heart disease cases among the population below 30 years of age are increasing dramatically worldwide, majorly due to lifestyle choices which include but not limited to alcohol abuse, excessive smoking, obesity, diabetes, and others.

One of the heart conditions that young people are susceptible to is Rheumatic Heart Disease /Vascular Heart Disease. It is a condition that is caused due to prolonged Rheumatic fever, a condition that is caused by group A beta-hemolytic streptococci bacteria, it causes an immune response in the body that leads to the inflammation of valves that results in valve damage. These valves channel the blood in our heart from one chamber to another, when these valves get damaged due to rheumatic fever they can cause serious problems to our heart and can be fatal.

Rheumatic Heart Disease can lead to various other complications such as a ruptured heart valve, which would require required immediate surgery or replacement of a heart valve. In some cases, an infection in the inner lining of the heart may occur due to damaged heart valves which are termed medically as Bacterial Endocarditis. It can also cause complications during pregnancy and can lead to heart failure in pregnant women.

Symptoms of Rheumatic Heart Disease/ Valvular Heart Disease

As per the cardiac specialists, the symptoms or the warning signs in the form of Rheumatic fever start appearing at a young age of around 10 years to 14 years. Heart specialists state that a bacteria named group A beta-hemolytic streptococci which is very common in our country due to poor hygiene causes strep throat or scarlet fever and these conditions and if left untreated or under-treated can lead to complications that can cause damage to heart valves. So, it is essential to recognize the symptoms at an early stage for effective treatment of the condition.

Some of the symptoms of Rheumatic Heart Disease are:

• Dyspnea: In this condition, the patient suffers from shortness of breath during day-to-day activities or even at rest.
• Palpitation: In this condition patients heartbeat gets irregular and is audible to him after eating heavy meals or during the day to day activity. One should not ignore these symptoms and should immediately consult a heart specialist.
• Chest pain –Discomfort or severe pain in the chest or heaviness radiating to your left arm and back are the symptoms of the heart disease.
• Vertigo and Syncope – If you feel that you are moving in fact when you are not is known as Vertigo.
• In case one is suffering from any of the above-mentioned symptoms, one should not worry and should immediately consult a heart specialist.

Rheumatic heart disease diagnosis process

The diagnosis process for rheumatic heart disease includes the following procedures:

• Throat Culture Test – Throat culture or strep test is done to detect the presence of group A beta-hemolytic streptococci bacteria
•  Blood Test – The antistreptolysin O (ASO) titer blood test is done to check the presence of strep fighting antibodies to determine the presence of streptococci bacteria.
• Physical Examination -A medical consultant may check for an audible murmur or rub during a routine physical exam which is caused by leaking blood around the damaged valve or inflamed heart tissues rubbing of inflamed heart tissues.
• Echocardiogram (echo). This is done to check the heart’s chambers and valves for any damage.
• Chest X-ray. It is done to check any visible enlargement of the heart.
• Cardiac MRI. It is done to get a clear and precise look at the heart.
• Electrocardiogram (ECG). It is done to detect any abnormal rhythms (arrhythmias or dysrhythmias) through small sensors that pick the electrical impulses of the heart.

Once the above-mentioned tests have been completed, a heart specialist will analyze these reports and even if you are diagnosed with Rheumatic heart disease, the good news is that this disease is curable with nearly 100 % success rates.

Recommended treatments for Rheumatic Heart Disease

The Treatment depends upon the severity of the damage caused to the heart valve by the disease. Treatment may require surgery for the damaged valve for the replacement of the valve in case the damage is irreversible.

If the rheumatic heart disease is diagnosed in the early stages with minimum damage to the heart valve, Antibiotics are used to treat strep infections and prevent rheumatic fever thereof.  Anti-inflammatory drugs may be recommended to subside the symptoms such as inflammation to lower the risk of heart damage. Other medicines may be prescribed as per complications.

Precautions for prevention of Rheumatic Heart Disease

Since rheumatic heart disease is caused by rheumatic fever, it can be prevented by taking precautions to prevent strep infections. Antibiotics, as recommended by doctors, should be used to treat strep infections, and visiting medical professionals for time to time for routine check-ups can also help in early diagnosis and prevention. Maintaining hygiene should be given importance to prevent any kind of infectious disease.

The cardiology team at METRO hospital has been successfully conducting surgeries to cure as well as replace the biological valves with mechanical ones regularly.  Our Cardiac team lead by the world’s leading interventional cardiologist Dr. Purshotam Lal has the experience of conducting more than 1000 surgeries with a success rate of nearly 100%.

We at the metro group of hospitals are always committed to realizing the vision of providing world-class healthcare at an affordable cost and to achieve excellence in Healthcare services by offering exceptional care through state-of-the-art technology.

The Metro Group was established in the year 1997 by Padama Vibhusan, Padma Bhusan and Dr. B C Roy National Awardee Dr. Purshotam Lal with the vision to provide world-class healthcare amenities to his countrymen at an affordable cost.

Metro Group of Hospitals are the leading healthcare centers in our country boasting an ultra-modern infrastructure providing multispeciality care by an exceptional team of healthcare professionals under the leadership of world-renowned interventional cardiologist Dr. Purshotam Lal. We at Metro hospitals provide multispecialty care for 35 Chief and Allied-specialities that include Anaesthesiology, Cardiology & CTVS, Dentistry, Gastroenterology & Gastro Surgery, Internal Medicine, Neurosciences, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Oncology & Onco Surgery, Orthopaedics, Joint Replacement & Spine Surgery, Paediatrics & Neonatology, Physiotherapy Plastic, Cosmetic & Reconstructive Surgery, Pulmonology & Sleep Medicine, Rheumatology, Stem Cell Therapy, Bariatric & Metabolic Surgery, Blood Bank, Dermatology, Endocrinology And Diabetes, ENT & Cochlear Implant, Haemotology, Holistic Medicine, Homeopathy, Interventional Radiology Laboratory, Laparoscopic & General Surgery, Nephrology & Renal Transplant, Nutrition & Health, Ophthalmology, Metro Eye Centre, Psychiatry, Psychology, Radiology, and Urology.

Dr. Purshotam Lal is an internationally acclaimed Interventional Cardiologist who epitomizes the best in professional excellence and service to humanity, especially the poor and the needy.

Dr. Lal was trained at world renowned medical institutions in the UK, Germany, and the USA. He is fellow of American College of Cardiology, American College of Medicine, Royal College of Physician (Canada), British Cardiovascular Interventional Society, German Society of Cardiovascular Research, Fellow of Society of Cardiac Angiography and Interventions, USA, etc. He has the unique distinction of pioneering the largest number of procedures in the field of Interventional Cardiology for the first time in the country such as Slow Rotational Angioplasty, Atherectomy, Rotablator, Stenting, Heart hole closure, etc.

He has developed techniques of Aortofemoral bypass support (partial artificial heart), Opening of tight heart valves with echo without cath lab. He has performed the first case of Non-surgical heart hole closure (ASD) with monodisc device and the first case of Non-surgical aortic valve replacement with core valve, both being the first time in the world. He is the first investigator of Inoue Balloon Mitral Valvuloplasty in the Country and his name has been listed in the ‘Limca Book of World Records’.

A crusader against unethical commercialization of medical services, he has committed himself to provide to the middle class, poor and the needy the latest cardio-vascular procedures at the most affordable cost. In pursuance of his mission, he has established thirteen state-of-the-art Hospitals and three satellite units. Such is Dr. Lal’s commitment to his mission that an ever-increasing number of poor patients have been treated either free of cost or at concessional rates and ‘No patient is ever turned back for want of money’. He has been named as ‘Creator of Affordable Healthcare’ by ‘Express Healthcare’, a leading health magazine and has been a trendsetter for NRIs to return to India to serve the needy people.

Dr. Lal has been decorated with several prestigious awards:–

• 2nd Jawaharlal Nehru International Excellence Award (1990), Rajiv Gandhi Award (1991), Dr.V.V.Shah Oration Gold Medal by Cardiological Society of India (1992) for his pioneering contributions in Interventional Cardiology.
• Distinguished Achievement Award of Highest Order by the National Forum of Indian Medical Association (2006-07) for performing the largest number of angioplasties/stenting as a single operator in the country.
• ‘Life Time Achievement Award’ by Shri Arun Jaitley on behalf of Delhi Medical Association and ‘Life Time Achievement Award’ by Dr. Lilly Engineer, Professor of Harvard University on behalf of ‘Times of India’.
• Padma Bhushan (2003), prestigious Dr. B.C.Roy National Award (2004) and Padma Vibhushan (2009) by the President of India.
• He has contributed over one hundred research papers, articles, chapters and authored a book “Cause and Prevention of Heart Diseases”. He has been a Member at Central Council of Health and Family Welfare, Expert Committee for medical devices, Ministry of Health, Govt. of India, Delhi Medical Council, Standing Committee ESI Corporation – Ministry of Labour & Employment, Govt. of India and Member Board of Governors, Medical Council of India from May 2011 to May 2013.