Pericarditis is resulting from swelling and irritation of thepericardiuma thin sac enclosing the heart muscle.
In many individuals, the cause of pericarditis is unknown but presumed to be a viral infection.
Other possible causes includeautoimmune diseases, cancer, chest trauma, and kidney failure.
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It will also discuss how pericarditis is diagnosed and distinguished from more serious diagnoses like aheart attack.
Weakness
Generalized weakness,malaise(feeling unwell), and fatigue are commonly seen in pericarditis.
As with weakness, cardiac tamponade can cause more severe breathing difficultiestermed respiratory distress.
This causes the receptors to send signals to the brain stem via thevagus nerve.
Other
Depending on the cause of the pericarditis, other symptoms may be present.
Weight loss may also occur with pericarditis related to cancer or a bacterial infection, especiallytuberculosis.
Hiccupsor trouble swallowing (dysphagia) have been reported in acute pericarditis.
These symptoms are thought to arise from irritated or compressed structures located near a swollen, fluid-filled pericardium.
Three classic signs of cardiac tamponade are:
Cardiac tamponade requires immediate fluid drainage through a procedure called apericardiocentesis.
What Is Pericardiocentesis?
An operation to initiate the chest is less commonly performed to remove the fluid.
With recurrent pericarditis, symptoms resemble those of acute pericarditis but tend to be less severe.
Symptoms of chronic pericarditis include tiredness, coughing, and shortness of breath.
Chest pain may or may not be present.
The presence of a pericardial friction rub on the heart exam is a highly specific finding for pericarditis.
What Is a Pericardial Friction Rub?
Diagnostic Tests
After a physical exam, a person will undergo anelectrocardiogram (ECG).
An ECG classically shows widespread concave “saddle-shaped” ST elevation in acute pericarditis.
The ST segment represents the time between when the heart’s ventricles contract and recover.
They can support a diagnosis of pericarditis, including constrictive pericarditis.
Summary
Pericarditis is inflammation of the pericardium, the protective tissue that encloses the heart muscle.
This pain worsens when taking a deep breath and lessens when leaning forward.
With proper treatment and rest, most people with acute pericarditis recover well without complications.
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