Anointed Stars Int'l Health-Care Department

✴️ ENDOCARDITIS ✴️

1. **Definition of Endocarditis**
Endocarditis is an **inflammation of the endocardium**, which is the inner lining of the heart chambers and valves. It can be a **life-threatening disease** and requires prompt attention.

2. **✴️Etiology ✴️**
- **Infection**: Endocarditis is usually caused by **bacterial or fungal infections**. These infectious agents enter the bloodstream and adhere to damaged heart valves or tissue.
- **Germs in the Bloodstream**: Bacteria or fungi from other parts of the body can travel through the bloodstream and collect on the endocardium.

3. **✴️Risk Factors ✴️**
Several factors increase the likelihood of developing endocarditis:
- **Artificial Heart Valves**: Individuals with artificial heart valves are at higher risk.
- **Damaged Heart Valves**: Pre-existing damage to heart valves increases susceptibility.
- **Other Heart Defects**: Certain congenital heart defects also contribute to the risk.

4. **✴️Pathophysiology ✴️**
- Germs attach to damaged areas in the heart, leading to inflammation.
- Clumps of bacteria or fungi form on the endocardium.
- The immune system may not always effectively clear these pathogens.

5. **✴️Clinical Manifestations ✴️**
Symptoms can vary, but common signs of endocarditis include:
- Aching joints and muscles
- Chest pain during breathing
- Fatigue
- Flu-like symptoms (fever, chills)
- Night sweats
- Shortness of breath
- Swelling in the feet, legs, or belly
- Heart murmurs (abnormal heart sounds)

Less common symptoms may include:
- Unexplained weight loss
- Blood in the urine
- Tenderness under the left rib cage (spleen)
- Skin lesions (Janeway lesions, Osler nodes, petechiae)

6. **✴️Diagnostic Evaluation ✴️**
- **Blood Tests**: Identify bacteria or fungi in the bloodstream.
- **Imaging**: CT scans, MRI, and X-rays assess infection spread.
- **Electrocardiogram (ECG)**: Detect abnormal heart activity.

7. **✴️Nursing Assessment ✴️**
Nurses play a crucial role in assessing and monitori

What is Pulse Oximeter? How does it work?

Pulse Oximeter is a non-invasive and painless test that measures your oxygen saturation level, or the oxygen levels in your blood. It can rapidly detect even small changes in how efficiently oxygen is being carried to the extremities furthest from the heart, including the legs and the arms.
The Pulse Oximeter is a small, clip-like device that attaches to a body part, like toes or an earlobe. It’s most commonly put on a finger, and it’s often used in a critical care setting like emergency rooms or hospitals. Some doctors, such as Pulmonologists, may use it in office. All pulse oximeter probes (finger or ear) have light emitting diodes (LEDs) which shine two types of red light through the tissue. The sensor on the other side of the tissue picks up the light that is
transferred through the tissues.
The oximeter can determine which of the haemoglobin is in pulsatile blood (arterial) and can then determine the SpO2 of arterial blood in the peripheral circulation.

A microscope image shows a sickle cell, left, with normal red blood cells. (Coloured scanning electron microscope image).

𝗝𝗮𝗯𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗯𝗮 – 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗧𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗙𝗿𝘂𝗶𝘁𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝘁𝘀 𝗧𝗿𝘂𝗻𝗸

Otherwise known as the Brazilian Grape Tree (Plinia cauliflora), this plant is native to South America, notably Paraguay, Argentina and (obviously from its name) mostly from Brazil. The fruit, a succulent looking purple color can be plucked and eaten straight from the tree and some say it tastes like blueberry yogurt.

It is also a popular ingredient in jellies and is also juiced to make a refreshing summer drink. What is more it can be fermented and made in to wine and strong liquor. After three days off the tree the fermentation will begin so, sometimes, there is no choice but to create a beverage with a certain alcoholic kick to it.

Why is it more important than ever to stay out of hospitals?

Conventional medical care is expensive, dangerous, and not natural. If you live in the U.S., you have the most expensive health care in the world, and unfortunately, it also ranks dead last in quality of care among industrialized countries. In fact, the U.S. spends more money than the 10 biggest spenders combined! In simple terms, the U.S. medical system is extremely bloated and about to explode.

If that is not insulting enough, recent research reveals 210,000 lives are lost each year by preventable hospital errors! If you choose to include diagnostic errors, failure to follow proper guidelines, and omission errors, the number climbs to 440,000 preventable deaths each year! Turns out that these errors are the third leading cause of death in the U.S., immediately after heart disease and cancer.

Add to that, the spread of superbugs (bacteria that have adapted in ways that antibiotics no longer affect them) has become a seriously growing threat according to the World Health Organization (WHO). A recent report shows that 2 million people are infected annually with antibiotic resistant bacteria, and 23,000 die as a result.

Hospitals and waiting rooms are full of sick people with many different types of contagious, airborne infections. So there you sit, waiting, bathing in EMF’s radiating from all kinds of electronic devices, breathing in air contaminated with viruses and bacteria while snacking on vending machine garbage or eating your hospital fare: canned soup, crackers, white bread, and crappy apple juice. Not exactly a recipe for well-being!

Hospital stays can also cause psychological harm by disrupting your day-to-day routines with sights, smells, and invasive procedures that are anything but normal. The combination of sleep deprivation, poor nourishment, hospital procedures, and medications can be devastating to anyone, especially the elderly.

Last, but certainly not least, there are several convent