What are the early symptoms of rheumatic heart disease?
Disease description:
Dad said my uncle hasn't been feeling well lately and went for a medical checkup today. He was found to have rheumatic heart disease, still in the early stage. What are the symptoms of this condition?
In the early stages of the disease, patients typically experience symptoms such as sore throat, hoarseness, and painful coughing, followed by systemic weakness and excessive sweating—symptoms commonly associated with rheumatic diseases. These occur primarily due to impaired cardiac function, which affects cerebral blood circulation, leading to neurological symptoms such as dizziness and visual blackout. In severe cases, patients may even experience syncope. It is recommended that patients seek medical attention promptly.