{"id":5836,"date":"2019-04-18T06:03:58","date_gmt":"2019-04-18T06:03:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.today\/?p=5836"},"modified":"2021-03-31T14:54:38","modified_gmt":"2021-03-31T14:54:38","slug":"14-risk-factors-associated-with-endocarditis","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.today\/14-risk-factors-associated-with-endocarditis\/","title":{"rendered":"14 Risk Factors Associated with Endocarditis"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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The endocardium is the inner lining of your heart. When a bacterial infection takes hold of this lining and starts to spread, it causes inflammation of the sensitive tissues, resulting in a condition known as \u201cendocarditis.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Unfortunately, endocarditis presents similar symptoms to those produced by other minor infections, making the condition troubling to diagnose as many physicians may mistake it for another disease or disorder affecting your health.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Common symptoms of the condition are comparable to the flu, presenting night sweats, muscle and joint ache, nausea and a decrease in appetite, as well as fever, chills, and a cough or shortness of breath.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The symptoms of endocarditis vary from person to person, depending on their current health status, age, body composition, and lifestyle habits. As with any other disease or infection, endocarditis has its own set of risk factors, read through this list to see if you fall into the high-risk category for this infection.
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1.    Illicit Drug Use<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Users of intravenous illicit drugs that often share needles with friends. As a result, they are at risk of contracting numerous bacterial, fungal, and viral infections.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bacteria <\/a>that cause endocarditis can contaminate needles, especially when sharing them between other addicts. Unfortunately, many addicts live day-to-day., and can\u2019t afford healthcare to protect themselves from infection. As a result, many homeless addicts who develop symptoms of endocarditis may confuse it with the flu and think they can wait for the disease to clear on its own.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a result of the inaction, the infected person may experience progression of the condition, and develop some of the more severe complications associated with endocarditis. Homelessness and drug use is currently a serious social issue in California, particularly in areas of San Francisco. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Homeless people in this area are currently experiencing outbreaks of bacterial diseases that can cause endocarditis, and healthcare for these individuals is limited to private caregivers who donate their time and skills to helping addicts recover from infection and disease.
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2.    Heart Valve Damage<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The heart has four valves that control circulation in the body. The tricuspid and mitral valves control the flow of blood from the atria to the ventricles, while the pulmonary and aortic valves pump blood out of the heart.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some individuals with heart disease may experience damage to the valves due to lifestyle <\/a>habits, such as drinking, smoking, and eating fast food. As a result of their practices, these individuals risk developing heart disease that damages the valves through scarring.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bacteria, viruses, and fungi can enter the scar tissue of the valves, inflaming the endocardium, resulting in the development of endocarditis. The initial symptoms of the condition are easy to confuse with signs of the flu.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Therefore, patients may not take much notice of the situation until it starts to present symptoms of chest pain. The endocardium inflames to dangerous levels that may cause the development of edema, and they begin to experience signs of a potential rupture in the lining.
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3.    Previous Endocarditis Infection<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

People who have experienced past infections of the endocardium lining are at risk of developing further bouts of endocarditis <\/a>in the future. Contracting a disease is a warning sign that something is wrong with the patient\u2019s current state of health.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After clearing the endocarditis, the patient should sit down with their doctor and discuss their lifestyle habits. It\u2019s possible to make the changes you need to avoid future re-infection with bacteria or fungi that cause the condition \u2013 provided that you understand what you\u2019re doing wrong at the moment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Patients that smoke tobacco products, and those that consume alcohol, need merely choose to stop this behavior, significantly reducing their risk profile. Cleaning up your diet requires hiring a nutritionist to design a menu of healthy nutritious foods that reduce inflammation and provide the right amount of nutrients for optimal metabolic function.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Regular checkups for your blood pressure, cholesterol levels, and hormone production will show whether or not your health is improving.
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4.    Heart Defects or Disorders<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

While the heart valves are the most common point of endocarditis infection, inflammation of the endocardial lining can occur due to other heart defects and problems as well. If the patient has a valve replacement, or chronic atherosclerosis \u2013 a blockage of the arteries due to a buildup of cholesterol <\/a>plaque on the inner linings, they also have a high risk of developing endocarditis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Endocarditis is also an issue for those patients with congenital heart disease. These individuals are born with heart malfunctions and prone to developing conditions like atherosclerosis. As a result, they may also develop bacterial infections of the heart valves that lead to endocarditis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Should the patient fall into this risk group, the chances are that they are already receiving treatment for their cardiovascular complications. Therefore, the patient’s doctor will most likely pick up signs of endocarditis before they reach a critical stage in the development of the condition.
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5.    Contact with Infected People<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

As social beings, humans come into contact with new people every day. Unfortunately, we have no way of discerning another person\u2019s health status. People at risk of developing endocarditis may meet people who are carrying some form of bacterial infection. As a result, the infected person may transmit the disease, causing severe complications with the affected individuals existing heart problems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bacteria spread through saliva and blood, with infected individuals carrying the bacteria on their skin due to wiping the sweat from their brow or picking something out of their teeth after lunch. Whatever the cause, with a simple handshake greeting, bacteria can hop from the skin of an infected person to another healthy person.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After the bacteria lands on the skin of the infected person, it filters through the pores in the skin, infecting the otherwise healthy individual. As a result, the bacteria may find its way to the endocardium, causing infection of this delicate tissue<\/a>, resulting in endocarditis.
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6.    Elevated LDL Levels<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Heart disease makes the cardiovascular system more prone to developing health issues. The leading, and only cause of coronary artery disease –  is an elevation in LDL cholesterol levels. While some people may think that smoking, drinking alcohol, and eating trans-saturated fats are the causes of heart disease, they are merely factors that increase the production of LDL cholesterol in the liver. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

LDL cholesterol sticks to the artery walls narrowing the space that blood has to flow through to reach the heart. As a result, the person may develop a blockage that leads to heart failure and death. Studies show that when our blood cholesterol levels for LDL exceed 70-mg p\/dL, we start to fall into the risk category for developing heart disease.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Heart disease weakens the tissues around the organ, allowing for a bacterial, viral, or fungal infection to enter the cardiovascular system<\/a> and create inflammation of the endocardial lining.
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7.    Weak Immune System<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

People with weak immune function are prone to catching infectious diseases. Over 70-percent of the immune system resides in the digestive system, and when people experience GI tract issues, such as inflammation caused by Crohn\u2019s <\/a>or celiac disease, the immune system encounters a decrease in function, resulting in sensitivity to infection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

People undergoing treatment for cancer may also experience a drop in immune function when they have to endure radiation or chemotherapy. If you find that you get sick frequently, you may have issues with the health of your immune system. It’s best to remedy this situation by changing your diet to improve your gut health.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

People with weak immune systems lack the immune response to create antibodies and white blood cells to fight off the infection. Whatever the reason for a diminished immune system, it exposes you to contracting a bacterium that may result in the development of inflammation in the endocardial lining that leads to endocarditis.
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8.    Complications<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Inflammation of the endocardium is a serious condition that requires immediate treatment from a medical professional. Failing to receive treatment in time may result in a host of severe cardiovascular complications. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The damage caused by endocarditis may lead to the development of conditions such as, an abnormal heart rhythm \u2013 otherwise known as atrial fibrillation, as well as blood clots<\/a>, and injuries to other organs, such as the liver \u2013 which may result in conditions such as hyperbilirubinemia that lead to Jaundice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The brain, lungs, and kidneys are also at risk of developing complications from endocarditis, and the skeletal system is at risk of infection of the spinal column \u2013 known as \u201costeomyelitis.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bacterial infections of the cardiovascular system mean that the bacteria can flow through your bloodstream, infecting any organ it chooses. If you are in the high-risk group for developing endocarditis, it\u2019s vital that you have a checkup with your cardiologist at least twice a year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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