How Can Heart Valve Disease Be Prevented
To prevent heart valve disease caused by rheumatic
fever, see your doctor if you have signs of a strep infection. These signs
include a red and painful sore throat, fever, and white spots on your
tonsils.
If you do have a strep infection, be sure to take
all medicines prescribed to treat it. Prompt treatment of strep infections can
prevent rheumatic fever, which damages heart valves.
It's possible that exercise, diet, and medicines
that lower cholesterol also might prevent aortic stenosis (thickening and
stiffening of the aortic valve). Researchers continue to study this
possibility.
A heart healthy eating plan, physical activity,
other lifestyle measures, or medicines aimed at preventing a
heart
attack,
high
blood pressure, or
heart
failure also might help prevent heart valve disease.
If you've had previous heart valve disease and now
have a man-made valve, you may be at higher risk for a heart infection called
endocarditis. Floss and brush your teeth regularly. Gum
infections and tooth decay can cause endocarditis.
Let your doctors and dentists know if you have a
man-made valve or if you've had endocarditis before. They may give you
antibiotics before medical or dental procedures (such as surgery or dental
cleanings) that could allow bacteria to enter your bloodstream. Talk to your
doctor about whether you need to take antibiotics before such procedures.
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