Sudden pressure on the heart and sudden
difficulty pumping enough blood (called
cardiac tamponade). This can be caused by the weight
and pressure of the fluid buildup if it happens quickly.
Constrictive pericarditis, which can occur when pericarditis comes back or becomes a longer-term problem. The sac around the
heart gets thick and stiff. This makes it harder for the heart to pump blood.
Medicine side effects, including cancer treatments.
In many cases the cause the is not known.
What are the symptoms?
The main symptom is a
sharp pain in the center or left side of your chest. The pain may spread to the shoulder blade. For some people, this pain is dull
instead of sharp. It may be worse when you lie down or take a deep
breath.
The pain lasts for hours or days and doesn't get better
when you rest. It's different from a type of chest pain called
angina, which only lasts a short time and usually gets
better with rest.
Other symptoms may include a mild fever,
weakness, feeling very tired, coughing, hiccups, and muscle aches.
Pericarditis usually isn't dangerous, but your chest pain could be
caused by something more serious, like a
heart attack. And getting diagnosed and treated early
can help keep pericarditis from leading to other problems. That’s why you
should call a doctor right away if you have any kind of sudden chest
pain.
How is pericarditis diagnosed?
Your doctor will
listen to your heart during a physical exam. He or she will also ask questions
about your medical history, such as whether you've had a recent illness,
radiation treatment for cancer, or tuberculosis.
Your doctor may
want you to have some tests, including an
electrocardiogram, a chest X-ray, and blood
tests.
If the chest X-ray shows any fluid buildup, or if you have new or worse symptoms, such as shortness of breath, your doctor may want you to have a test
called an
echocardiogram.
How is it treated?
If there are no other problems,
pericarditis usually goes away on its own in a few weeks. During this time:
Try aspirin, ibuprofen, or another nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) to reduce pain. In some cases, your doctor may prescribe stronger medicine.
Get plenty of rest. Avoid all strenuous activity that has not been approved by your doctor.
Follow your doctor's advice about what problems to watch for, such as shortness of breath or other signs of complications.
Be sure to keep all follow-up appointments with your doctor. If you have complications or the illness gets worse, you may need further treatment. This could include medicines or a procedure to relieve the fluid and pressure around your heart (pericardiocentesis).
Visit the American Heart Association (AHA) website for information on
physical activity, diet, and various heart-related conditions. You can search for information on heart disease and stroke, share information with friends and family, and use tools to help you make heart-healthy goals and plans. Contact the AHA to find your
nearest local or state AHA group. The AHA provides brochures and information
about support groups and community programs, including Mended Hearts, a
nationwide organization whose members visit people with heart problems and
provide information and support.
CardioSmart
Web Address:
www.cardiosmart.org
CardioSmart is an online program that provides patient education and support from the American College of Cardiology. The goal of CardioSmart is to engage, inform, and empower patients to participate in their own care and partner with their cardiologists. The website contains information about heart problems, living with heart disease, and preventing heart disease. It also provides patient-centered news and can help you find a cardiologist. The website has a Health and Wellness Center with information about diet and exercise, managing medicines, and working with your doctor.
The American College of Cardiology is a nonprofit medical society whose members include many types of health professionals, including doctors, nurses, and surgeons.
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
(NHLBI)
P.O. Box 30105
Bethesda, MD 20824-0105
Phone:
(301) 592-8573
Fax:
(240) 629-3246
TDD:
(240) 629-3255
Email:
nhlbiinfo@nhlbi.nih.gov
Web Address:
www.nhlbi.nih.gov
The U.S. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
(NHLBI) information center offers information and publications about preventing
and treating:
Diseases affecting the heart and circulation, such as heart
attacks, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, peripheral artery disease, and
heart problems present at birth (congenital heart diseases).
Diseases that affect the lungs, such as asthma, chronic
obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), emphysema, sleep apnea, and
pneumonia.
Diseases that affect the blood, such as anemia,
hemochromatosis, hemophilia, thalassemia, and von Willebrand disease.
Hoit BD (2008). Pericardial disease. In V Fuster et
al., eds., Hurst's The Heart, 12th ed., pp. 1951–1974.
New York: McGraw-Hill Medical.
LeWinter MM (2008). Pericardial diseases. In P Libby
et al., eds., Braunwald's Heart Disease: A Textbook of Cardiovascular Medicine, 8th ed., pp. 1829–1853. Philadelphia: Saunders
Elsevier.
Maisch B, et al. (2004). Guidelines on the diagnosis
and management of pericardial diseases. Executive summary. European Heart Journal, 25(7): 587–610.
Shafi S, Oh JK (2008). Diseases of the pericardium,
cardiac tumors, and cardiac trauma. In DC Dale, DD Federman, eds.,
ACP Medicine, section 1, chapter 13. Hamilton, ON: BC
Decker.
Credits
By
Healthwise Staff
Primary Medical Reviewer
E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine
Specialist Medical Reviewer
Stephen Fort, MD, MRCP, FRCPC - Interventional Cardiology
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How this information was developed to help you make better health decisions.
