This is also known as tricuspid valve insufficiency. The tricuspid valve separates your right atrium and right ventricle.
When your tricuspid valve doesn’t properly close, it causes tricuspid regurgitation, which causes the blood to flow back into the right atrium when the right ventricle contracts.
Untreated tricuspid regurgitation can weaken your heart dramatically. It is commonly accompanied by aortic and/or mitral valve disease. This can cause noticeable swelling in your abdomen, legs, or veins in your neck.
Atrial fibrillation
This is a type of arrhythmia by irregular electric impulses in the atria, which causes a rapid increase in heart rate. This heart condition is temporary, but needs treatment. Otherwise, episodes may persist and can lead to a stroke.
These different manifestations of rheumatic heart disease all occur when your heart valves have been permanently damaged by rheumatic fever. Since this cardiac complication is commonly caused by rheumatic fever, the best treatment would be to prevent your rheumatic fever from worsening.
How do the symptoms of rheumatic heart disease lead to diagnosis?
Similar to other health complications, your doctor will ask you to describe how you have been feeling and will take note of your medical history. Most people who are diagnosed with rheumatic heart disease symptoms have had a strep infection.
To properly diagnose that you have strep throat, the doctor may request that you take a throat culture or blood test.
Along with a physical exam, these tests are used to diagnose and confirm the symptoms of rheumatic heart disease.
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