Rheumatic fever is a disease caused by a group of bacteria known as Group A streptococcus. Rheumatic fever begins with a strep throat (also called strep pharyngitis). Rheumatic fever tends to strike most often in cool, damp weather during the winter and early spring.

Rheumatic fever affects the joints, skin, heart, blood vessels, and brain. Rheumatic fever is most common in 5- to 15-year-old children, though it can develop in younger children and adults. Rheumatic fever can cause permanent damage to the heart that may result in serious harm to the heart valves and heart failure. Treatments can reduce tissue damage from inflammation, lessen pain and prevent the recurrence of rheumatic fever. Read the rest of this entry →

Cardiac tamponade, also known as pericardial tamponade, is an emergency that occur when blood or fluid builds up in the space between the myocardium (the muscle of the heart) and the pericardium (the outer covering sac of the heart). Fluid that collects in the pericardial sac can exert enough pressure to prevent the heart from relaxing completely between beats. Usually, this fluid has accumulated rapidly, and the increase in pericardial pressure causes a sudden decrease in cardiac output. Severe pericardial fluid pressure can cause a drop in blood pressure, shock, abnormal heart rhythms, and death.

Cardiac tamponade related to trauma or HIV is more common in young adults. Cardiac tamponade can be caused by anything that inflames or injures the pericardium. Some common causes are pericarditis, chest trauma and viral or bacterial infection. In a patient with cardiac tamponade, the heart experiences reduced stroke volume. This results in decreased oxygenation. The patient may have a very rapid pulse, and symptoms such as chest pain, anxiety, and extreme discomfort can be observed in the patient. Read the rest of this entry →

Rheumatic fever is an inflammatory disease that may develop as a consequence of infection with group A streptococcus. Rheumatic fever is a complication of untreated strep throat. Rheumatic fever affects the joints, skin, heart, blood vessels, and brain.

Rheumatic fever can cause permanent damage to the heart that may result in serious harm to the heart valves and heart failure. Rheumatic fever can occur at any age but primarily affects children from 5 years old to 15 years old. It can also develop in younger children and adults. Recurring episodes of rheumatic fever most often affect people when they are about 25 to 35 years of age. Rheumatic fever tends to strike most often in cool, damp weather during the winter and early spring. Read the rest of this entry →

A heart attack usually happens when a blood clot develops in one of the blood vessels that lead to the heart muscle (coronary arteries).  A heart attack occurs if the clot becomes large enough to cut off most or all of the blood flow through the artery. The blocked blood flow prevents oxygen-rich blood from reaching the part of the heart muscle fed by the artery. The lack of oxygen damages the heart muscle.

Causes of Heart Attack in Men are following:

• People who smoke regularly have a much higher risk of heart attack as compared to people who never smoked.
• Emotional stress or pain can lead to heart attack. Read the rest of this entry →