The patients exhibiting symptoms that correlate with pericarditis should seek immediate help from a cardiologist in Lahore. The specialist will perform tests to confirm the severity of the condition and provide treatment to help the person survive and recover smoothly.
Pericarditis is a serious medical condition. The inflammation in the pericardium leads to unbearable chest pain. The pericardium is the delicate and thin membrane covering the heart. In severe cases, the patient requires urgent medical attention to avoid complications. The symptoms of pericarditis include:
- The person experiences a sharp pain in the left region of the chest.
- The person suffers from pain that spreads to the middle of the chest.
- The patient can notice that the pain intensifies while breathing.
- The person experiences shortness of breath while lying straight on the bed.
- The patient can notice irregular and fast heartbeats
- The patient suffers from a low grade of fever most of the time.
- The person remains inactive due to lethargy,
- The person suffers from persistent coughing, and the medications are proven ineffective.
- The person can notice swelling in the lower extremities.
Causes of Pericarditis
The known causes of pericarditis are:
- Bacterial and Viral infections can cause inflammation in the pericardium and lead to further complications.
- People with a recent history of open-heart surgery are more likely to suffer from the condition.
- The pericardium can be a complication of a heart attack.
- People involved in a physical injury or accident history are more likely to suffer from the condition.
- Individuals under radiation therapy are more likely to suffer from the condition.
- Individuals diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis or lupus are prone to develop the condition.
- Individuals taking antiseizure medications or blood thinners are more likely to suffer from pericarditis as a side effect.
Complications Associated with Pericarditis
The complications that correlate with the condition include:
- If the patient does not seek medical attention and take proper treatment, it can lead to permanent thickening of the pericardium. It can limit the functioning of the heart and lead to other complications.
- The person may suffer from cardiac tamponade. It is the accumulation of fluid in the pericardium. It can lead to heart failure, edema, and bleeding.
Tests to Diagnose Pericardium
The tests that help in diagnosing the patient with pericardium include:
- Imaging Testing: Multiple imaging tests such as CT scans, MRI, and x-ray help confirm; if there is an accumulation of fluid in the pericardium.
- Echocardiogram: The tests monitor and evaluate the functioning of the heart. It helps know the severity of the condition.
Effective Treatment Options
Mediations and surgical procedures that have proven effective in treating pericarditis include:
- Use of Analgesics: The medication helps the person feel at ease. It relieves the pain and reduces inflammation, which allows the patient to manage the symptoms and function adequately.
- Use of Anti-inflammatory Drugs: With the combination of other medications, it helps control the inflammation. Additionally, it prevents the reoccurrence of the condition.
- Use of Antibiotics: If the cause of the condition is an infection, then antibiotics help fight it. People with tuberculosis are more likely to suffer from pericarditis; antibiotics help combat and ease the pain.
- Use of Corticosteroids: If the person suffers from reoccurrence of the condition, they have to take corticosteroids.
- Pericardiocentesis: In severe cases, when the medications are proven ineffective, the procedure is used to drain the excess fluid through a tube from the pericardium.
- Pericardiectomy: Id the person is suffering from constrictive pericarditis, then the surgical procedure removes the entire pericardium to avoid complications.
The patients diagnosed with pericarditis should visit a cardiologist in Karachi. The specialist will provide guidance regarding the severity of the condition and complications associated with the condition. Additionally, the doctor will provide guidance regarding the best treatment according to the individual’s overall health.
