Not all heart ailments may have fatal or serious repercussions, but you need to get the facts clear on them nonetheless. Pericarditis is one such example. It basically is swelling and irritation of a thin saclike membrane of the heart called pericardium (42). Pericarditis may lead to chest pain, but the good thing is the complications tend to last for short periods. However, it may become chronic. While most people with Pericarditis improve with time and may not require medications- some victims may need medical intervention. There is no denying prompt and proper treatment can bring down risk of any long term complications caused by this condition. Chronic pericarditis may last for a long time.
What are the major symptoms of pericarditis?
The most prominent symptom of this condition is pain in the chest. It can be mild or intense in nature and can radiate to neck region. It can cause breathing hardships too. Other symptoms are:
- Shortness of breath
- Hardship in gulping down food.
- Fever and chill.
The root cause of pericarditis
It is often difficult to identify the root cause of pericarditis. However, the possible causes may include:
- Infections
- Inflammatory diseases like Inflammatory bowel disease and Rheumatoid arthritis
- Metabolic illnesses like Hypothyroidism
- Heart attack
- Specific types of medications
- Tumors
What are possible complications of pericarditis?
The complications may include Constrictive pericarditis and cardiac tamponade. In some victims, permanent thickening and scarring of pericardium takes place- leading to Constrictive pericarditis. If excess fluid is gathered in the pericardium- cardiac tamponade can occur and it can be dangerous. It can be fatal if not treated.
Ways to diagnose pericarditis
The doctor may evaluate your medical history and ask details about similar conditions running in the family. Since it can be caused by use of certain types of medications- learning medical history is quite relevant. The doctor can also check heart sound by using a stethoscope.
You may have to undergo a series of tests so that proper diagnosis can be done. These tests include:
- Chest X-ray
- Electrocardiogram
- Computerized tomography
- Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging
The tests can be useful in detecting pericarditis and the underlying condition as well.
What are the treatments for pericarditis?
As a matter of fact, the doctor will decide course of treatment based on the root cause of pericarditis.If an infection is the cause, you may be givenNSAIDs like ibuprofen and aspirin. Even using narcotic pain medication can be of use (43). Bringing down the pain is the objective here. Sometimes, patients are given stronger medications to reduce the pain.
If the condition has been triggered by an underlying infection in the body, the doctor may advise using a suitable antibiotic. At times, a stay in the hospital can be needed so that the complications can be found.
In some cases, the doctors may opt for Pericardotomy- a process involving cutting a hole in the pericardial sac. It is applied in cases of recurrent pericarditis. A process called pericardiocentesis is performed when the victim develops Cardiac tamponade. The excess fluid in the pericardium is removed using a needle or tube in this process.
What you should do after being detected withpericarditis?
Once you are detected with this ailment, you should adhere to usage medications advised by your doctor without deviation. It is necessary to eat healthy and limit salt intake as salt may hold fluid in the body. Follow up with the doctor after treatment is started is must.
It is very difficult to prevent this condition from happening- from the realistic perspective. However, you can definitely adopt measures that can bring down the risk of its occurrence. In most cases, it is mild and treatment may be short term. But, those with chronic pericarditis need long term treatment and recovery can take a long time too. With proper and long treatment- risk of recurrence is less.