SBE stands for subacute bacterial endocarditis — an infection of your heart and valves. If you have heart valve disorders or valve surgery, it's important that you prevent SBE. Symptoms include fever, chills, sweating, loss of appetite or fatigue.

The American Heart Association recommends that you receive antibiotics before having these kinds of surgeries or procedures: dental (oral), respiratory tract, esophageal, genitourinary or gastrointestinal.

Be sure to let your doctor or dentist know before you have any of these types of procedures.

Your doctor will use blood test information to determine the dosage of warfarin (Coumadin) that you need.

More or less warfarin affects the rate at which your blood clots. A small amount of your blood will be drawn and tested to find out how fast your blood is clotting.

This measurement is called INR, prothrombin time or protime.

When you start taking warfarin, you may have blood tests every day for a few days, then perhaps once a week.

Once your doctor decides on your dosage, you'll need INR tests less often. Sickness, diet, medicine (prescription, herbals, vitamins and over-the-counter) and physical activity can affect your blood clotting time.

Tell your health care team about changes in your health, medicine you are taking, or major dietary changes, so your warfarin dosage can be adjusted, if needed.

There are signs that your blood may not be clotting rapidly enough. If you experience these, call your doctor:

• bleeding from cuts that does not stop
• nosebleeds that don't stop
• more bleeding than usual when you brush your teeth
• more bleeding than usual when you get your menstrual period, or unexplained bleeding from your vagina
• unusual bruising for unknown reasons
• cannot get bleeding to stop with manual pressure or have a nosebleed that will not stop.

Call your doctor if you:

• have a serious fall
• hit your head
• have unusual colored urine or stool (including dark brown urine and noticing red or black in your stool)
• have a fever or sickness that gets worse
• vomit, cough or throw up blood
• have loose or runny stools or diarrhea
have an infection
• have pain or swelling
• have headache, dizziness, trouble breathing, chest discomfort or feel more weak or tired than usual
• gain more than 3 pounds one day or 5 or more pounds in one week (Keep a daily log.)
• feel grating of the sternum (in the middle of your chest).