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.