Health Home > Heart & Vascular Health > Rheumatic heart disease

Rheumatic heart disease

Healthwise
By Jeannette Curtis; Caroline Rea, RN, BS, MS

Did you find this helpful?

Rate this article:
30% of users found this article helpful.

Rheumatic heart disease is inflammation and damage to the heart muscle and heart valves that develops as a result of rheumatic fever. A strep throat infection that is not properly treated can trigger rheumatic fever.

Not all people who have rheumatic fever develop rheumatic heart disease. However, any heart damage that occurs is usually permanent.

Author:Jeannette Curtis
Caroline Rea, RN, BS, MS
Medical Review:
Last Updated: 05/25/2007

Health Resources

help

Featured Expert

Yahoo! Experts share their tips and advice

Your Healthy Heart

By Simeon Margolis, M.D., Ph.D.

See All Yahoo Experts »

Yahoo! Health Groups

Join the Conversation

Join a Yahoo! Group and discuss with other memebers in the group. Share tips and experiences

See All Yahoo Groups »

Tip of the Day

Provided by: RealAgeNov 5, 2009

Piling your favorite sandwich fixings on the right kind of bread could mean healthier blood pressure. The right choice? One hundred percent whole-grain.

Read More »

View All Tips »