A cardiac arrhythmia, or heart palpitations, is a disturbance of the normal heartbeat sequence caused by non-regular processes in the formation and conduction of excitation in the heart muscle. Cardiac arrhythmias occur quite frequently. The heart of an adult beats on average one hundred thousand times per day. The fact that the heart beats faster … Cardiac Arrhythmias: Causes, Treatment & Help
Dental floss is gaining influence in Germany. The reason is simple: flossing is a cost-effective and easy way to protect teeth. Caring for them requires only a few minutes a day, but their benefits are priceless. What is dental floss? The primary function of floss is to remove plaque, also called dental plaque or biofilm, … Dental Floss: Applications & Health Benefits
The aortic valve is one of four heart valves or one of two so-called leaflet valves. It is located at the exit of the left ventricle into the aorta. The aortic valve opens during systolic contraction of the left ventricle and allows ejection of blood from the ventricle into the aorta, the beginning of the … Aortic Valve: Structure, Function & Diseases
heart valve inflammation, inflammation of the inner wall of the heart Introduction Inflammation of the heart valves (endocarditis) is a potentially life-threatening disease, usually caused by microbial pathogens such as viruses, bacteria or fungi. It is not uncommon for structural damage to the heart valves to be the result, accompanied by a functional defect. Symptoms … Endocarditis
Therapy The treatment is carried out with antibiotics, as it is often triggered by bacterial pathogens. It is important to start the therapy early to avoid complications of the infection. Different antibiotics are used depending on whether the affected heart valve is the patient’s own original heart valve or a prosthetic valve. In the case … Therapy | Endocarditis
Prognosis However, about thirty percent of those affected respond poorly to the medication (antibiotics), resulting in extensive damage to the heart valves. In such cases, an operation with replacement by artificial valves as a life-saving measure is often unavoidable. Complications Dreaded complications of heart valve inflammation (endocarditis) are metastases of bacterial deposits on the heart … Prognosis | Endocarditis
Duration of endocarditis Endocarditis should be treated early to avoid complications and consequential damage. If antibiotic therapy is started in time, the disease will subside over the duration of the therapy of about four to six weeks. It is important to monitor the success of the therapy regularly, as this is the only way to … Duration of endocarditis | Endocarditis
Is endocarditis contagious? Endocarditis is usually not contagious. It is only triggered by small amounts of bacteria, which are abundant in the oral cavity or body and can only enter the bloodstream through minor injuries. The infectious focus is then only on the heart, where small abscesses, encapsulations of the bacteria can form. Disease development … Is endocarditis contagious? | Endocarditis
What is the diagnostic procedure for endocarditis? The diagnosis differs according to whether infectious bacterial endocarditis or non-pathogenic endocarditis is suspected. Infective endocarditis is diagnosed on the basis of several criteria. The two most important criteria are so-called “positive blood cultures” and abnormalities in the ultrasound or CT examination. In order to obtain the former, … What is the diagnostic procedure for endocarditis? | Endocarditis
Frequency (Epidemiology) In the Federal Republic of Germany, approximately 2 to 6 new cases of endocarditis occur per year among 100,000 inhabitants. On average, men are affected twice as often as women. The age peak of the disease endocarditis is 50 years. Since the introduction of antibiotic therapy, the overall incidence of the disease has … Frequency (Epidemiology) | Endocarditis
Gentamicin is an aminoglycoside antibiotic. It is primarily effective against Gram-negative bacteria but is now used systemically only in emergencies because of nephrotoxic and ototoxic side effects. What is gentamicin? Gentamicin is an antibiotic from the group of aminoglycosides, which is composed of several substances called gentamicins. It is thus a mixture of substances. The … Gentamicin: Effects, Uses & Risks
Pulmonary valve regurgitation is a relatively rare condition of the heart valve, which is usually a symptom of disease. In very few cases, pulmonary valve regurgitation requires therapy; however, in severe disease, surgery is possible, so a heart valve replacement is needed. What is pulmonary valve regurgitation? Doctors speak of pulmonary valve insufficiency when the … Pulmonary Valve Regurgitation: Causes, Symptoms & Treatment
