What Are The Heart Conditions Responsible For Endocarditis?

Are you suffering with any heart disease? Have you undergone any heart surgery? Then you are at increased risk of developing endocarditis.

But, you can get rid of this infection of endocarditis by considering certain preventive measures.

People with unhealthy hearts are more prone to endocarditis. This bacterial infection mainly infects one of the four chambers of your heart and causes a life threatening problem for you.

Endocarditis is mainly caused when the bacterial germs enters into one of the four chambers of your heart.

This bacterium mainly enters into your blood stream through many ways like; it can enter in your blood during your dental work, colonoscopy or other surgical procedures of any other part of your body which you have undergone earlier.

Improper dental care can also lead for growth of bacterial germs in your blood stream. When this bacterium enters into your blood, it mainly settles in any of your heart valve and starts accumulation of germs and leads to an infected mass in the valve of your heart called vegetation.

Heart conditions responsible for infection:

There are certain heart conditions which have more potential to make the endocarditis infection even more dangerous for your heart condition, which is responsible for the growth of bacteria in the valves of your heart, mainly include:

  • Artificial heart valves: Bacterial germs mostly get attached to the valves of your heart during the surgery of artificial heart valves and the risk of infection is very high in the first year of implantation.
  • Certain congenital heart diseases: If you are born with any kind heart disorder like mitral valve prolapse, then you can be at the increased risk of developing infection in your heart.
  • Damaged heart valves: Medical conditions like rheumatic fever or any other infection can be responsible to cause damage to one or more valves of your heart and increases the risk of endocarditis.

Some of you even without any heart defect can also have a chance to develop endocarditis, but these cases are very rare. If you suspect that you have any heart defect, then it is very important for you to know more about this heart valve infection.

Try to consult your doctor and discuss with him about your risk of developing endocarditis and take preventive measures to avoid the complications.