Rheumatic heart disease can cause heart valve leakage

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Interventional cardiology and arrhythmia consultant Prof. Dr. dr. Yoga Yuniadi, Sp.JP(K), FIHA, has stated that rheumatic heart disease can cause heart valve leakage.

“Typically, in their 30s, the valve leaks or narrows due to rheumatic heart disease suffered during our teenage years,” he said at a Primaya Hospital Kelapa Gading event in Jakarta on Saturday.

Rheumatic heart disease is a complication of acute rheumatic fever caused by a Streptococcus bacterial infection that leads to throat inflammation (pharyngitis) but does not receive adequate treatment, according to information on the official website of the Ministry of Health’s Directorate General of Advanced Healthcare.

“So, if you have children with respiratory tract infections, painful swallowing, and green phlegm, they must be treated immediately. If not, and the germ is Streptococcus hemolyticus type B, its toxins attack the heart,” said Prof. Yoga.

“The heart is not damaged at that time; the damage occurs later, 10 to 15 years afterwards,” said the professor of cardiology and arrhythmia at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Indonesia.

Heart valve disorders can involve a valve that is too tight, making it difficult to open, or a leaking valve.

Heart valve problems can be triggered by heart rhythm disturbances, specifically long-standing atrial fibrillation that causes valve damage.

Prof. Yoga also stated that conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, and obesity can trigger other heart diseases that may lead to heart valve problems.

“We prevent other heart diseases, like heart rhythm disturbances, by keeping blood pressure normal, avoiding obesity, not smoking, and managing diabetes,” he said.