What should I do if rheumatic heart disease catches a cold?

Written by Xie Zhi Hong
Cardiology
Updated on May 12, 2025
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Patients with rheumatic heart disease, if they find they have caught a cold, should go to the hospital for an examination as soon as possible, including blood tests and an electrocardiogram. If a viral infection is suspected, antiviral treatment should be administered promptly. If a bacterial infection is suspected, antibiotics should be given promptly to control the infection. This can prevent the cold from turning into a lower respiratory tract infection or pneumonia. Because if a cold is not treated in time, it often can trigger an episode of heart failure in patients with rheumatic heart disease and can also lead to a further aggravation of rheumatic disease. Therefore, patients with rheumatic heart disease should prevent infections, and the use of long-acting penicillin once a month is very necessary.

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If the patient has rheumatic heart disease, the main symptoms include palpitations, chest tightness, and shortness of breath after activity, as well as swelling in both lower extremities. If wheezing symptoms occur, some cardiotonic drugs can be used in treatment to improve the patient's symptoms. Currently, treatment primarily focuses on symptomatic relief and improving the patient's cardiac and pulmonary functions. During this period, it is important to actively prevent complications. If the patient's symptoms occur abruptly, it is crucial to seek immediate medical attention at a hospital. Sometimes, infusion therapy and low-flow oxygen inhalation are required to effectively alleviate the patient's current symptoms of palpitations, chest tightness, and breathing difficulties.

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The primary cause of rheumatic heart disease is an abnormal immune response caused by infection with hemolytic streptococcus, which leads to damage of the heart valves. This damage results in narrowing or insufficiency of the valves, altering the hemodynamics within the blood and increasing the burden on the heart, thereby causing a series of clinical symptoms. Early control of streptococcal infections can reduce the occurrence of rheumatic heart disease. Common streptococcal infections include upper respiratory tract infections, acute tonsillitis, and suppurative tonsillitis. Actively using effective antibiotics to control these infections can greatly reduce the incidence of rheumatic heart disease.

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What to do about reduced urine output in the late stage of rheumatic heart disease?

Patients with rheumatic heart disease who experience oliguria in the late stage should consider the possibility of heart failure as the cause. Due to heart failure leading to a decrease in cardiac output, renal blood perfusion is reduced, which in turn causes symptoms of oliguria. Additionally, if the patient also has renal function impairment, it will further exacerbate the symptoms of oliguria. It is important for patients with rheumatic heart disease who experience symptoms of oliguria to seek medical attention promptly and receive active treatment as soon as possible. Medications to control heart failure should be administered to increase the heart's contractility and cardiac output, improve renal perfusion, and diuretics should be given to increase urine output. With heart failure under control, the patient's condition can be alleviated. For patients with rheumatic heart disease, if there are indications for surgery, timely surgical treatment should be provided.

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Can rheumatic heart disease be inherited?

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Do patients with rheumatic heart disease fear catching a cold?

Rheumatic heart disease is mainly caused by infections from hemolytic streptococci, leading to heart valve abnormalities and changes in cardiac function and structure. The condition most commonly affects the mitral valve, resulting in mitral regurgitation. Patients often exhibit symptoms of heart failure. Exposure to cold or catching a cold can exacerbate the burden on the heart, leading to increased cardiac load and worsening symptoms of heart failure. Therefore, patients with rheumatic heart disease are particularly susceptible and fearful of catching colds. It is crucial for these patients to stay warm, use medication promptly when symptoms of a cold appear, and avoid vigorous exercise to prevent an increased cardiac load and potential acute heart failure. (Medication should be taken under the guidance of a doctor.)