What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Pericarditis?
Sharp, stabbing chest pain is a common symptom of
acute pericarditis. The pain usually comes on quickly. It often is felt in the
middle or the left side of the chest.
The pain tends to ease when you sit up and lean
forward. Lying down and deep breathing worsens it. For some people, the pain
feels like a dull ache or pressure in their chests.
The chest pain may feel like pain from a
heart
attack. If you have chest pain, you should call 9–1–1 right
away, as you may be having a heart attack.
Fever is another common symptom of acute
pericarditis. Other symptoms are weakness, trouble breathing, and coughing.
Chronic pericarditis often causes tiredness,
coughing, and shortness of breath. Chest pain is often absent in this type of
pericarditis. Severe cases of chronic pericarditis can lead to swelling in the
stomach and legs and
low
blood pressure (hypotension).
Complications of Pericarditis
Two serious complications of pericarditis are
cardiac tamponade (tam-po-NAD) and chronic constrictive pericarditis.
Cardiac tamponade occurs when too much fluid
collects in the pericardium (the sac around the heart). The extra fluid puts
pressure on the heart. This prevents the heart from properly filling with
blood. As a result, less blood leaves the heart. This causes a sharp drop in
blood pressure. If left untreated, cardiac tamponade can cause death.
Chronic constrictive pericarditis is a rare disease
that develops over time. It leads to scar-like tissue throughout the
pericardium. The sac becomes stiff and can’t move properly. In time, the
scarred tissue compresses the heart and prevents it from working correctly.
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