(NewsNation) — Six in 10 adults will live and die with heart disease by 2050, according to forecasts by the American Heart Association.
Cardiovascular disease, which encompasses a range of heart conditions, is already the leading cause of death in the United States.
Rheumatic heart disease is one of those conditions.
What is rheumatic heart disease?
Rheumatic heart disease is a condition in which rheumatic fever has permanently damaged the heart valves, causing symptoms of shortness of breath, chest pain and swelling.
Rheumatic fever is an inflammatory disease that affects connective tissues, including in the heart, joints, skin or brain, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine.
Though rare in the U.S., it primarily impacts children ages 5 to 15 with untreated or undertreated strep throat infections.
Is rheumatic heart disease curable?
Rheumatic heart disease is not curable as the heart valves become scarred and narrowed over time, making it harder for the heart to function normally.
Doctors advise preventing rheumatic heart disease by preventing strep throat infections.
If you do contract strep throat, antibiotics are recommended to help keep you from developing rheumatic fever, which can lead to heart disease.