Patient's question:
My colleague is 30 years old this year, and I've never heard her mention having heart disease before. However, during the recent physical check-up implemented by the company for everyone, the doctor discovered that she suffers from rheumatic heart disease. So, I'd like to ask a few questions—what could be the reason for this?Doctor's answer:
Rheumatic heart disease is an immune system disease, and its cause is not yet clear. It is highly related to environmental factors. It mainly involves the continuous increase of rheumatoid factors that accumulate in the heart, leading to repeated inflammation of the heart valves. Over time, this can cause valve fibrosis and abnormalities, requiring treatment through corticosteroids, as well as surgical valve replacement to resolve heart issues.