Tips and useful information

Endocarditis

Endocarditis is an infection of the inner wall of the heart and /or the heart valves caused by bacteria that enter the blood stream. It is serious and requires action . It is not a common infection but people with a heart condition are at a greater risk of developing it than those with a normal heart. You can get endocarditis more than once.

The following factors can increase the risk of endocarditis:

• Using contaminated needles
• Bacteria from skin infections
• Tooth abscesses
• Body piercing and tattoos

Avoid tattoos and body piercing due to the risk of infection.

To help reduce the risk of endocarditis, keep good dental hygiene. Clean your teeth twice a day and have regular visits to the dentist every 6-12 months. If you are not registered with a dentist, the details on how to do it are below.

Financial support

The Down's Heart Group is setting up a Support Fund to give small cash grants to help to ease financial hardship of individuals and their family, when undergoing hospital treatment for a Down’s Heart related condition. Grants will be up to a maximum total of £250.

To access and download the form, you need to register as a member on the Down's Heart Group website.

The The Somerville Heart Foundation also offers financial support and has a cost of living crisis fund.

Find an NHS Dentist

Everyone should have access to good quality NHS dental services. Try to find a practice that's convenient for you and phone them to see if any appointments are available. Ask if you’re not sure whether the practice provides NHS care.

The service finder on the NHS website enables you to find local NHS services, including dentists. You will need to contact the dental practice directly and check whether they are currently accepting NHS patients. 

www.england.nhs.uk
www.nhs.uk
www.healthwatch.co.uk
 

Other useful tips

• Always take your medication and never run out. If you take Warfarin ensure you have your INR checked.
• Please bring a list of your medication to clinic
• Take care with alcohol intake as excess can cause heart rhythm problems. Rhythm problems can also be caused by caffeine containing stimulant drinks such as Red Bull, Monster and Relentless.
• Taking any kind of regular exercise is very beneficial for the health of the whole body. Follow the ‘Talk Test’ (Still being able to talk whilst exercising, despite being breathless). Avoid lifting or pushing heavy weights (“heavy” = generally more than one third of your body weight). If unsure about exercise possibilities, ask the ACHD team
• Eat a healthy and balanced diet
• If travelling overseas ensure you have appropriate travel insurance. Always declare your medical conditions.
• Have annual flu vaccination and pneumonia vaccination every 5 years
• For female patients careful family planning is important, as pregnancy can be high risk. Speak to your ACHD consultant or specialist nurse for advice. Let us know immediately if you become pregnant.
• Do not smoke
• Avoid use of recreational or illegal drugs
   

Useful websites

Here are some useful websites to access further information about your condition:

• Hearts for teens
• The Somerville Heart Foundation (SHF)
• British Heart Foundation
• Consensus
• Created By Parents
• Home from Home Care

Our contact details

ACHD nursing team: 01223 639944

ACHD outpatient booking team: 01223 638933   

ACHD clinic coordinator: 01223 639785

Email: papworth.achdnurses@nhs.net