Pericarditis — Inflammation That Mimics Heart Attack Symptoms

Wednesday, March 05, 2008

ROCHESTER, Minn. — It causes distinct chest pain, but it's not a heart attack. Pericarditis is an inflammation of the lining around the heart called the pericardium, according to the March issue of Mayo Clinic Health Letter.

Acute pericarditis typically produces sharp, stabbing chest pain below the breastbone or on the left side of the chest. For some, the chest pain may be a dull ache or pressure, and it may vary in intensity.

It can occur suddenly or slowly over time without a clear cause. It can develop after a heart attack or with conditions such as a viral infection, connective tissue disease or kidney failure. Whatever the cause, pericarditis usually can be cleared up with anti-inflammatory medications.

There's no question that chest pain, even if it's suspected pericarditis, warrants immediate medical care. The symptoms mimic those of a heart attack or a blood clot in the lung, both emergency conditions. Diagnostic tests, including an electrocardiogram to measure the heart's impulses, will indicate if the cause is pericarditis or something else.

It typically takes one to three weeks to recover from acute pericarditis. The vast majority of people who have an episode of pericarditis recover fully if they're diagnosed and treated promptly.

###

Mayo Clinic Health Letter is an eight-page monthly newsletter of reliable, accurate and practical information on today's health and medical news. To subscribe, please call 800-333-9037 (toll-free), extension 9PR1, or visit www.healthletter.mayoclinic.com.

###

To obtain the latest news releases from Mayo Clinic, go to www.mayoclinic.org/news. MayoClinic.com is available as a resource for your health stories.