Fungus of the Heart

What is Endocarditis?

Endocarditis signs and symptoms can vary from person to person.

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If you develop signs or symptoms of endocarditis, and if they don't go away, see your doctor as soon as possible — especially if you have risk factors for this serious infection, such as a heart defect or a previous case of endocarditis. Although less serious conditions can cause similar signs and symptoms, you won't know for sure until you're evaluated by your doctor.

Fungus of the Heart

Endocarditis occurs when germs enter your bloodstream, travel to your heart, and attach to abnormal heart valves or damaged heart tissue. Certain types of bacteria cause most cases, but fungi or other microorganisms also may be responsible. Usually, your immune system destroys harmful bacteria that make it into your bloodstream.

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Even if bacteria reach your heart, they may pass through without causing an infection. However, bacteria that live in your mouth, throat or other parts of your body, such as your skin or your gut, can sometimes cause serious infections like endocarditis under the right circumstances. Bacteria can more easily attach to the lining of your heart endocardium , if the lining's surface is rough.

You're also more likely to develop endocarditis if you have faulty, diseased or damaged heart valves.

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However, endocarditis does occasionally occur in previously healthy individuals. A normal heart has two upper and two lower chambers.

Endocarditis

The upper chambers, the right and left atria, receive incoming blood. The lower chambers, the more muscular right and left ventricles, pump blood out of your heart. The heart valves, which keep blood flowing in the right direction, are gates at the chamber openings. If your heart is healthy, you could be less likely to develop endocarditis, although it is still possible.

The germs that cause infection tend to stick to and multiply on damaged or surgically implanted heart valves, or on endocardium that has a rough surface. In endocarditis, clumps of bacteria and cell fragments form in your heart at the site of the infection.

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These clumps, called vegetations, can break loose and travel to your brain, lungs, abdominal organs, kidneys or limbs. As a result, endocarditis can cause several major complications, including:. Certain dental and medical procedures may allow bacteria to enter your bloodstream. For some people with heart disease or damaged or diseased heart valves, taking antibiotics before these procedures can help destroy or control the harmful bacteria that may lead to endocarditis.

This is because these people are more at risk of developing endocarditis after having these procedures. In the past, doctors gave antibiotics to many people before dental or other surgical procedures, such as procedures involving the intestinal or urinary tracts, even if they weren't at high risk of developing endocarditis.

Fungus of the Heart by Jeremy C. Shipp

However, antibiotics are no longer recommended before all dental or other surgical procedures, or for all people. As doctors have learned more about endocarditis prevention, they've realized endocarditis is much more likely to occur from exposure to random germs than from a standard dental exam or surgery. If you're at risk of endocarditis, let your doctor and dentist know before having any dental work. They will decide whether you need antibiotics before any dental procedures. It's still important to take good care of your teeth through brushing and flossing, since doctors have some concern that infections in your mouth from poor oral hygiene might increase the risk of germs entering your bloodstream.

In addition to brushing and flossing, regular dental exams are an important part of maintaining good oral health. Our patients tell us that the quality of their interactions, our attention to detail and the efficiency of their visits mean health care like they've never experienced. See the stories of satisfied Mayo Clinic patients.

In older growth forests, trees are unable to combat heart rot effectively because they grow at a much slower pace.

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It's a rare occurrence, but common bacteria or fungi found in your mouth, skin and elsewhere in your body can sometimes put your heart at risk. Endocarditis is a serious heart infection that can put your life in danger. Learn how to prevent and treat it.

Extensive rot causes these trees to be more susceptible to high winds and trunk fracture. As the old growth dies out, it allows new growth to take its place, altering the dynamic of the environment. Through this process of dynamic change, heart rot contributes to biologically diverse habitats. The prevention of heart rot can be a very difficult task but, there are effective measures to minimize damage. These methods include facilitating healthy growth, minimizing wounds and proper pruning of branches.

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A healthy tree naturally combats heart rot through a process called compartmentalization. The tree grows around the decayed wood tissue and prevents the fungus from spreading to a larger area of the trunk. Providing a tree with the necessary nutrients, water and growing conditions will promote healthy growth and minimize rot.

The bark is the tree's main defense against disease; reducing the amount of large wounds and bare wood, especially in older trees, helps prevent rot. Pruning focuses on removing dead or diseased branches with minimal damage done to the tree. Branches connect to the trunk and grow from the branch collar. While the branch itself may be dead, the branch collar is still healthy and resistant to disease.

It is from the branch collar that a new limb will generate and grow, so it is important not to damage it while pruning. Make clean cuts at the base of branch adjacent to the branch collar. Small branch stubs larger than three inches will inhibit the growth process and provide fungi with ideal growth environments. From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

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Florida Division of Forestry. Reports on Plant Diseases: Wood Rots and Decays. PDF accessed February 7, Retrieved from " https: Fungal tree pathogens and diseases. Webarchive template wayback links. Views Read Edit View history.

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