The researchers pointed out that the cocoa drink they used was specially processed to retain much higher levels of flavanols than are typically found in commercially-available cocoa drinks; so it is unlikely that drinking more hot chocolate would produce a similar effect.
What Is Endocarditis? Endocarditis (EN-do-kar-DI-tis) is an infection of the inner lining of the heart chambers and valves. This lining is called the endocardium (en-do-KAR-de-um). The condition also is called infective endocarditis (IE). The term endocarditis also is used to describe an inflammation of the endocardium due to other conditions. This article only discusses endocarditis related to infection. IE occurs if bacteria, fungi, or other germs invade your bloodstream and attach to abnormal areas of your heart.
Those whose endocarditis affects the right side of the heart usually have a better outlook than those with left-side involvement. In cases in which endocarditis is caused by fungi, the prognosis is usually worse than for bacterial endocarditis. Some possible complications of endocarditis include: Congestive heart failure . Floating blood clots, called emboli, in the bloodstream that lodge in the brain, lungs or coronary arteries. Kidney problems . If acute endocarditis remains untreated, it can be fatal in less than six weeks.