Why is it important to lean about infective endocarditis?
Your heart is a complicated organ, the engine of your body, really, that provides nourishing rich blood to your brain and muscles and limbs, and keeps you going strong. It is a strong instrument, to be sure, pumping hundreds of thousands of times without ever slowing down, but it is a delicate instrument, too, and can be plagued with different diseases. It is important, therefore, to learn of these various diseases, and how they can be avoided.
What does it mean to receive a diagnoses of infective endocarditis?
If your doctor gives you a diagnosis of infective endocarditis, it means that bacteria or microorganisms have entered your bloodstream and done damage to your heart. Microorganisms are usual on and in other parts of your body, such as your mouth and your urinary tract, but they are unusual in the bloodstream. Many people, however, can have microorganisms in their body (which sometimes enter the body through dental or other kinds of surgery) and still do just fine. But others are not so lucky.
What happens to me when I have infective endocarditis?
A diagnosis of infective endocarditis means that the bacteria or microorganisms have entered your bloodstream and damaged your heart. If allowed to grow and grow unchecked, terrible things can occur. These things include irregular heart beat, blood clot, and heart attack, all of which can lead to paralysis and stroke and death. What happens when these microorganisms attach to your heart is that your body sends in an army of immune cells and other good things (such as platelets) to fight the microorganisms off. They form a sort of protective matter on the negatively effected area of the heart. If you’ve been diagnosed with infective endocarditis, it means that microorganisms have been trapped underneath this protective matter. Once they become trapped, they can come together, lump together, and form what is called vegetation in the heart. If this vegetation enters the bloodstream, it can block the blood from going places where it needs to go.
What are some symptoms that can lead to a diagnosis of infective endocarditis?
Some of the symptoms that precede a diagnosis of endocarditis include flu-like symptoms such as fevers, nigh sweats, and chills. Weight loss may occur, sleeplessness may occur. Muscle aches, chest pains, and a lack of energy are all signs of infective endocarditis. Your hands and the soles of your feet could develop red spots, or hurtful sores could appear on your fingertips. Any of these things by themselves are reason enough to see a doctor, and taken together they call for immediate attention.
What’s the difference between a diagnosis of acute endocarditis and a diagnosis chronic endocarditis?
Acute endocarditis is endocarditis that has only recently developed in your body. Chronic endocarditis is endocarditis that has been there for weeks and months. Whatever the case, it is crucial that you see your doctor, so that you can have the procedures and medications necessary to heal your heart of this terrible disorder before permanent damage occurs.
Who’s in danger of a diagnosis of infective endocarditis?
A diagnosis of infective endocarditis usually comes to those who already have heart valve disease, or have had a heart valve replaced in surgery. It can also come to those who were born with heart problems to begin with, and with those who had conditions as children which damaged the valves of their heart. Those who use intravenous drugs are also in danger. If any of these points apply to you, it is a good idea to have regular checkups with your doctor to ensure that your heart is doing well. In that way you avoid the likelihood of being diagnosed with infective endocarditis.