Why do people with heart problems have to receive antibiotics before receiving novacaine or other anaesthesia?!

Well the american heart association has changed the regimen. Only certain patients need to take it when there will be any bleeding. If you are haveing xrays only for example you wouldnt pre medicate. So if you have a heart murmur or mitro valve prolapse you probably dont need to take it. But If you have had a replacement such as a hip or knee relacement you would need to. The reason is that when dental treatment is being performed and there is bleeding a bacteria can enter your blood stream and go to your heart. This is called ENDOCARDITIS. It can be fatal!Health Question & Answer

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I'm not sure we have all the facts here but I can tell you that if people have abscessed teeth and are going to have extractions they will treat the infection first, with antibiotics, because the infection can actually migrate to the heart, causing pericarditis( an infection or inflammation of the lining of the heart) , if they don't, and cause heart problems, even if the person had no cardiac problems prior to this.
also, if a person is going to have a surgery, they wiIl likely receive an antibiotic as a prophylactic measure to prevent an infection post -op. Hope this helps.Health Question & Answer

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It depends on the heart condition. for the most part it has nothing to do with the injection, because the needle and the syringe are sterile. Certain procedures like cleanings are more dangerous than other for people with serious heart problems or those prone to some serious infection. The reason is cince they are prone to infection and there medical condition is so bad a simple infection can kill them so this why they give pre med.

Cleaning have a higher chance of producing bleeding which can lead to infection.

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http://www.ada.org/public/topics/antibio...

This has all the info you need.Health Question & Answer

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