Committed to Care
Information
Pericarditis & Myocarditis
Inflammatory diseases around or inside the heart muscle.
01What is pericarditis?+
It is inflammation of the pericardium, the thin membrane that surrounds the heart.
It can occur after infection or in other clinical settings.
02What is pericarditis pain usually like?+
It can be sharp and affected by breathing or body position.
These features may aid in the diagnosis, but no new onset of chest pain should be automatically assumed to be pericarditis without evaluation.
03What does "fluid around the heart" mean?+
It means that there is pericardial effusion, which is fluid in the space between the pericardium and the heart.
The importance depends on the amount, the speed with which it was collected and the effect it has on the heart.
04Is pericardial fluid dangerous?+
Not always.
Small effusions may not have a significant hemodynamic effect. Larger or rapidly growing collections require closer evaluation.
05Can pericarditis come back?+
Yes, some patients may have relapses.
06When can I return to exercise?+
The return to exercise should be done after the active inflammation has subsided and according to the clinical course.
Time is not the same for everyone.
07When does chest pain need urgent evaluation?+
When the pain is new, severe or persistent, especially with shortness of breath, sweating, weakness, fainting or another significant deterioration.
08What is myocarditis?+
It is inflammation of the heart muscle.
It can have different causes and range from mild inflammation to more serious involvement of the heart.
09Can it occur after a virus?+
Yes, it can occur in association with certain infections.
But this does not mean that every pain, pulse or fatigue after a virus is myocarditis.
10How is the diagnosis made?+
Evaluation may include history, ECG, lab tests, echocardiogram, and when indicated, cardiac MRI.
11What does an MRI of the heart show?+
It can give information about inflammation, edema or scarring/fibrosis in the myocardium and help in the overall assessment.
12What does LGE mean in magnetics?+
Late gadolinium enhancement is a way in which MRI can highlight areas with different tissue characteristics, such as scar or fibrosis.
Its significance depends on location, pattern, extent, and overall clinical context.
13Is Holter monitoring needed?+
It may be needed when there are palpitations, arrhythmias or when we want to assess the heart rhythm after myocarditis.
14When can I return to exercise?+
Return to vigorous exercise should only occur after appropriate re-evaluation and when active disease has subsided.
15Can it leave a permanent problem?+
The course is different.
Many patients recover, while others may remain with structural or functional findings that require follow-up.
Didn't find the answer you were looking for?
Every person has a different history. The right answer starts with personal assessment.