Strategies For Treating Pericarditis

Pericarditis is an inflammation of the pericardium, a membrane that protects the heart. It can be either acute or chronic, and it may be caused by a car accident or other chest trauma. Pericarditis can also develop due to inflammatory conditions such as lupus and rheumatoid arthritis, and it may occur as a result of cancer, tuberculosis, or kidney failure. Symptoms of this condition typically include left-sided chest pain that gets worse when breathing in, heart palpitations, a low-grade fever, shortness of breath while lying down, and a cough. Patients may also experience swelling of the abdomen or lower limbs, and they may feel a general sense of weakness or fatigue. To check for pericarditis, a clinician will first listen to the chest with a stethoscope. They will check for the presence of a pericardial rub, an abnormal sound indicative of this illness. The pericardial rub is created when the pericardial layers rub together. To confirm a diagnosis of this condition, electrocardiograms, echocardiograms, chest x-rays, and CT scans may be needed.