About Heart Diseases

Rheumatic heart disease:

Rheumatic heart disease is caused by one or more attacks of rheumatic fever, which in turn damages heart, particularly the heart valves. Rheumatic fever usually occurs in childhood, and may be followed by streptococcal infection. In some cases, the infection affects the heart and may result in scarring of the valves, weakening of the heart muscle, or damaging the sac enclosing the heart. The valves are sometimes scarred so they do not open and close normally.

Hypertensive heart disease:

High blood pressure of unknown origin (primary hypertension) or caused by (secondary hypertension) certain specific diseases or infections, such as tumor in the adrenal glands, damage to or disease of the kidneys or their blood vessels. High blood pressure may overburden the heart and blood vessels and cause disease.

Inflammatory heart disease:

Inflammation of the heart muscle (myocarditis), the membrane sac (pericarditis) which surrounds the heart, the inner lining of the heart (endocarditis) or the myocardium (heart muscle). Inflammation may be caused by known toxic or infectious agents or by an unknown origin.