National Institutes of Health
- The primary NIH organization for research on Pericardial Disorders is the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
The pericardium is a membrane, or sac, that surrounds your heart. It holds the heart in place and helps it work properly. Problems with the pericardium include:
Symptoms of pericardial problems include chest pain, rapid heartbeat and difficulty breathing. Fever is a common symptom of acute pericarditis. Treatment depends on the cause.
NIH: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)