What Other Ways Can I Look After My Health After Rheumatic Fever?

Get bicillin injections on time

Make sure you get your bicillin injections on time. If you are going to be away for the next due date of your bicillin injection, please let the nurse know. They will make sure you are covered when you are away. If you are moving, don't forget to let your nurse know so they can make arrangements for you.

Regular exercise

Keep active and exercise. Your healthcare professional will give advice about this.

Eat good foods

Because rheumatic fever can affect the heart, it's important to protect your heart. Eat a healthy, well-balanced diet. 

If you have rheumatic heart disease, some foods may interfere with your medicine, particularly warfarin. Please check with your heart specialist (cardiologist). 

See the warfarin guide for rheumatic heart disease to learn more about warfarin.

Quit smoking and vaping

Don't smoke or vape. Encourage everyone in your whānau to quit smoking and vaping, especially around you. 

The importance of warm, dry, healthy housing

Many illnesses, including acute rheumatic fever and respiratory tract infections, are linked to cold and damp homes that are poorly ventilated.

The 'Healthy Homes' initiative is a free service that can discuss your housing situation and give support if needed. They can help you create a warm, safe and dry home, which can help keep your whānau well. See the KidsHealth page on keeping your house warm and dry for more information

For more information on the 'Healthy Homes' initiative, you could also talk to your nurse when you have your bicillin injection.

Other parts of the journey

My rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease journey introduction

Checklist - going home from hospital after my rheumatic fever

Taking care of my health after a diagnosis of rheumatic fever

What exactly is rheumatic fever?

My rheumatic fever or rheumatic heart disease journey in pictures

What exactly is rheumatic heart disease?

How will my rheumatic fever be managed?

What other ways can I look after my health after rheumatic fever? (You are here)

When can I return to doing the things I enjoy after rheumatic fever?

Will I need regular medical check-ups after rheumatic fever?

Looking after my mouth and gums after rheumatic fever

Wanting to plan to have a baby after rheumatic fever?