This post continues our conversation about headaches in the correctional environment with a discussion of Secondary Headaches. Remember secondary headaches are caused by another disorder. Secondary Headache Subdural hematoma A subdural hematoma can be chronic or acute. A chronic hematoma may be present and may get significantly large before the patient begins to have head pain. Acute subdural hematoma is…
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In this post, we continue with our series about Endocarditis with a discussion of Non-Infective Endocarditis and the Nursing Interventions for the patient with Endocarditis. CAUSES OF NON-INFECTIVE ENDOCARDITIS Non-Infective Endocarditis occurs when fibrous blood clots without bacteria form on damaged heart valves. Damage may be due to a birth defect, rheumatic fever, or an autoimmune disorder (where antibodies attack the heart valves);…
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In this post, we continue with our discussion of Infective Endocarditis with its signs and symptoms and diagnosis. SYMPTOMS OF INFECTIVE ENDOCARDITIS Acute bacterial endocarditis usually begins suddenly with a high fever (102° to 104°F); tachycardia; fatigue; and rapid and extensive damage to the heart valves which cause symptoms of heart failure, like shortness of breath and lower extremity edema. Subacute bacterial endocarditis symptoms…
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