Pericarditis is when the thin, saclike tissue surrounding the heart becomes inflamed and swells. Pericarditis is characterized by sharp chest pain, as well as other symptoms. The pericardium's inflamed layers press against one another, creating this pain. This condition is a usually minor issue that disappears on its own. More severe instances may be treated with medication or, on rare occasions, surgery. Pericarditis can be detected and treated early, which can help to reduce the risk of long-term complications.
It's worth noting that the most common pericarditis symptom is chest pain. It typically is experienced as a sharp or stabbing sensation. However, some people report dull, achy, or pressure-like chest pain. Additional symptoms include pain below the breastbone or on the left side of the chest, which generally progresses to the left shoulder and neck. It usually worsens when the patient coughs or takes a deep breath, but sitting up and leaning forward makes them feel better.
Other signs and symptoms of pericarditis include abdomen or leg edema, cough, weariness, or a general feeling of weakness or illness, as well as a low-grade fever, pounding or racing heartbeat (heart palpitations), and difficulty breathing while lying down. The type of pericarditis the patient has will determine the symptoms.
Pericarditis is divided into four categories based on the pattern of symptoms and the length of time they last. Acute pericarditis develops quickly and lasts no more than three weeks. Future attacks are possible, and it might be difficult to distinguish between acute pericarditis and pain following a heart attack.
Recurrent pericarditis is the second form of pericarditis and develops four to six weeks after an acute pericarditis episode, with no symptoms in between. Persistent pericarditis, which lasts four to six weeks but not beyond three months, is the third form. The signs and indicators do not go away. The last type is chronic constrictive pericarditis, which develops slowly and lasts longer than three months. It's caused by a long-term infection, such as tuberculosis, which causes fluid to accumulate around the heart (pericardial effusion).
Many pericarditis symptoms are similar to those of other heart and lung disorders. Therefore, patients need to get an accurate diagnosis and undergo treatment as soon as possible. Pericarditis is notoriously difficult to diagnose.
Pericarditis may be triggered by a heart attack or cardiac surgery, leading to pericarditis or delayed pericarditis and infection, systemic inflammatory conditions such as lupus and rheumatoid arthritis, and trauma such as injuries to the heart or chest in a car accident.
When a patient is diagnosed with pericarditis, it is generally a good idea to minimize physical activity. The reason is that physical activity can cause further complications, including cardiac tamponade and higher pericardial effusion, myocarditis, recurring symptoms, or constrictive pericarditis.
While physical activity and sports are connected to better health, high-intensity exercise may trigger a long-lasting immunodepression that can go on for months after a certain threshold. Patients who have been diagnosed with pericarditis are generally more vulnerable to pathogens. In turn, these pathogens invade the myocardium, and other more metabolically active cells, resulting in myocarditis.