Pericarditis
Overview
Pericarditisis inflammation of the lining around your heart, which causes chest pain. It's not usually serious, but it can sometimes cause serious health problems. Get medical advice if you have chest pain.
Symptoms
The main symptom of pericarditis is chest pain. The chest pain usually: feels sharp or stabbingspreads to your shoulders, arms or tummygets worse when you breathe in deeply, swallow, cough or lie down (especially when you lie down on your left side)gets better when you lean forward You may also have: a high temperature, or feel hot, cold or shiverya coughpainful joints If you get pericarditis, it often follows a viral infection like a cold or flu.
Causes
Your heart has a protective fluid-filled sac around it called the pericardium. In pericarditis, the pericardium gets inflamed, and blood or fluid can leak into it. It's difficult to confirm the exact cause of pericarditis, but it's usually a viral infection, such as acoldorflu.
Treatment
Treatment for pericarditis will depend on what's causing it. You may be given anti-inflammatory painkillers, such asibuprofen, to help ease symptoms like pain. Sitting up or leaning forward can also help ease the pain. You may need other treatment. For example, a GP may prescribe medicines such as: colchicine– if anti-inflammatory painkillers do not work or pericarditis keeps coming backsteroids– if colchicine does not workantibiotics– if pericarditis is caused by a bacterial infection Most people feel better within a few weeks.