Inflammation in the pericardium, the sac that lines the heart, can be due to multiple causes, the most common of which is an infection. Rest is essential for recovery.
- What is the pericardium and what is its function?
- Pericarditis: what it is and why it occurs
- Pericarditis: symptoms
- Pericarditis: treatment
Heart health is critical to overall good health. This fist-sized muscle is responsible for pumping blood around the body that carries oxygen and essential nutrients to carry out all the functions of the organism.
Occasionally, the lining of the heart can become inflamed, leading to pericarditis. We explain why it occurs, the symptoms of pericarditis and how is the treatment for this alteration.
WHAT IS THE PERICARDIUM AND WHAT IS ITS FUNCTION?
The heart is surrounded by a membrane called the pericardium, like a fluid-filled sac, which protects and holds the heart in place and separates it from neighboring organs and structures.
The pericardium consists of:
- The fibrous pericardium, a very tough and hard outer layer that holds the heart in place inside the chest, protects it from inflammation and acts as a barrier against infection. It also prevents the heart from stretching and filling with too much blood.
- The serous pericardium, a thinner, softer inner layer, made up of two membranes.
The pericardium consists of:
- The fibrous pericardium, a very tough and hard outer layer that holds the heart in place inside the chest, protects it from inflammation and acts as a barrier against infection. It also prevents the heart from stretching and filling with too much blood.
- The serous pericardium, a thinner, softer inner layer, made up of two membranes.
PERICARDITIS: SYMPTOMS
The most common symptom of pericarditis is continuous, stabbing pain in the center of the chest or in the area where the heart is located (i.e., slightly to the left), which often spreads to the neck and left shoulder. It may be more intense when lying on your back, coughing, swallowing, or breathing deeply, and improve when sitting or leaning forward. In some less frequent cases, there may be a squeezing pain that spreads to the left arm.
Other signs that can alert you to pericarditis are:
- Fever.
- Cough.
- Generalized tiredness or weakness.
- Swelling in the legs.
- Palpitations or rapid heart rate (tachycardia).
- Feeling short of breath when lying down.
- Abdominal swelling.
The doctor, when listening to the heart with a stethoscope, will hear a characteristic rubbing-like sound (known as pericardial rubbing) that occurs when the two layers of the pericardium rub against each other. Changes in the electrocardiogram will also be observed, and in some cases, inflammation of the pericardium may be seen on a chest x-ray (if there is pericardial effusion).
PERICARDITIS: TREATMENT
Treatment of pericarditis will depend on what caused it.
It is usually a mild condition that goes away on its own without treatment, although in some cases it may require the use of anti-inflammatories or, if it is due to a bacterial infection, antibiotics.
Be that as it may, rest is essential for recovery from pericarditis.
In some cases, as a result of inflammation, too much fluid accumulates between the two layers of the pericardium, something that can cause a pericardial effusion and end up affecting the proper functioning of the heart.
The fluid accumulated in the pericardium puts pressure on the heart and can affect its ability to pump blood. Too high pressure can lead to what’s known as cardiac tamponade, which requires emergency treatment because it can be life-threatening. In these cases, surgery may be necessary.
