Abnormal valve function causes your heart to work harder and may cause heart enlargement. Your exercise tolerance may be limited. Severe valve damage may result in congestive heart failure that requires valve replacement surgery. Your doctor can describe the severity of the valve problem and whether or not medications or special restrictions are needed. For non-infectious endocarditis, treating the primary disease can help prevent the heart from becoming inflamed.
Infectious endocarditis is a very dangerous disease.
Infectious endocarditis may be prevented not injecting anything intravenously using unsterile needles and by minimizing the use of intravenous access if a patient is hospitalized. The antibiotics kill the bacteria before they have a chance to infect the heart. Ask your doctor if you need antibiotics before the procedure. People at risk do not need to be on antibiotics all the time. Tell your doctor or dentist if you are at risk for endocarditis.