Your heart has valves that are designed to keep your blood flowing in the right direction. If these valves become damaged, your heart will be less efficient at pumping blood. Age, lifestyle choices and disease can all do damage to your heart valves. One such disease is the development of rheumatic fever. Rheumatic fever occurs when strep throat goes untreated. The infection can cause your heart valves to become inflamed or scarred, stick together or leak. The good news is that strep throat can be successfully treated with antibiotics. However, if you do develop heart valve disease and the damage is serious enough, you may need to have your valves surgically replaced. If you notice the signs or symptoms, see your doctor to get started on a treatment plan.
Common Symptoms
If your valves have been damaged, you may experience chest pain, shortness of breath upon exertion or when lying down, fatigue and irregular heart rhythms. You may feel your pulse racing or be aware of palpitations. During a routine physical exam, your physician may detect a murmur or other unusual heart sound. In some cases, the condition remains mild and never needs treatment.
Additional Symptoms
This condition can also cause a chronic cough, lightheadedness, frequent urination and edema or swelling of the feet and ankles. In some cases the abdomen also swells. The Mayo Clinic states that in the early stages, these symptoms may be hardly noticeable. However, with time, the condition can progress and the symptoms will become more severe. Without the right treatment, the symptoms can become disabling.
Severe Symptoms
The Cleveland Clinic states that if this condition goes untreated or becomes severe, you may be at risk for developing blood clots. Blood clots can cause a heart attack or stroke. You may also begin to cough up blood. In addition, your doctor will need to run regular tests to watch for heart failure.
