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- What is Keshan's disease?
- Symptoms of Keshan's disease
- Causes of Keshan's disease
- Prevention of Keshan's disease
- Risk factors for Keshan's disease
- Complications of Keshan's disease
- When to see a doctor about Keshan's disease
- Diagnosis of Keshan's disease
- Conventional treatment of Keshan's disease
- Alternative/complementary treatment of Keshan's disease
- Living with Keshan's disease
- Caring for someone with Keshan's disease
Conventional treatment of Keshan's disease
Conventional treatment of Keshan's disease includes the following treatment strategies:
- Medication - a number of medications are used to help treat the symptoms of Keshan's disease, namely the heart muscle problems that arise from this condition:
- ACE inhibitors - angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors are used in the case where the heart is enlarged (dilated cardiomyopathy) or if there is heart failure
- Beta blockers - these drugs block specific nerve signals to the heart to reduce heart rate and force, which means the heart does not have to exert as much force to pump out blood and this reduces pressure on a heart that is not functioning properly. These medications are used in the case where the heart is enlarged (dilated cardiomyopathy) or if there is heart failure
- Corticosteroids - these medications may be used to reduce inflammation in the heart muscle and reduce symptoms of myocarditis, cardiomyopathy or heart failure. These medications are immune suppressants so they may cause a number of side effects that need to be treated too. Examples of corticosteroids used: Prednisilone, Prednisone
- Diuretics - these drugs flush out and remove sodium and water from the body, which reduces the amount of fluid in the body, reduces pressure on blood vessels and helps to dilate blood vessels back to a normal size and allow blood to flow more freely and reduce pressure on the heart
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- Fluids - if the damage to the heart muscle is not very severe and symptoms of Keshan's disease (especially myocarditis) are mild, without any major cardiomyopathy or heart failure, the doctor will recommend drinking adequate fluids such as water, diluted natural fruit juice and herbal tea (such as peppermint, chamomile or rosehip)
- Rest - if the damage to the heart muscle is not very severe and symptoms of Keshan's disease (especially myocarditis) are mild, without any major cardiomyopathy or heart failure, the doctor will recommend complete rest, to give the body the best chance to remove the virus through the function of the immune system
- Supplements - selenium, in the bioavailable form selenomethionine will be given, either intravenously or in a high dose supplement (up to the tolerable upper limit) until symptoms of Keshan's disease are reversed. This is the main form of treatment for this condition
- Surgery (heart transplant) - in very serious cases, where there is heart failure from myocarditis or cardiomyopathy (serious complications of severe Keshan's disease) and the patient is a candidate, a heart transplant can be performed to replace the diseased heart with a new, donor heart and restore health
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< 8: diagnosis 10: alternative treatment > Last reviewed: 29 January 2009 || Last updated: 29 December 2009
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NOTE: Mega doses of any type of vitamin, mineral, amino acid or herbal supplement cannot cure illnesses and in fact can be very dangerous and produce toxic side effects and interfere with medicine you are taking. Always ensure you consult your doctor before taking any type of complementary supplements.
Disclaimer: This guide is not intended to be used for diagnostic or prescriptive purposes. For any treatment or diagnosis of illness, please see your doctor.
