PCCN Myocarditis

PCCN Myocarditis

Myocarditis is an inflammation of the heart muscle (myocardium). Myocarditis can affect your heart muscle and your heart’s electrical system, reducing your heart’s ability to pump and causing rapid or abnormal heart rhythms (arrhythmias).

A viral infection usually causes myocarditis, but it can result from a reaction to a drug or be part of a more general inflammatory condition. Signs and symptoms include chest pain, fatigue, shortness of breath, and arrhythmias.

Severe myocarditis weakens your heart so that the rest of your body doesn’t get enough blood. Clots can form in your heart, leading to a stroke or heart attack.

Signs and Symptoms

If you have a mild case of myocarditis or are in the early stages, you might have no symptoms or mild ones, such as chest pain or shortness of breath.

In serious cases, the signs and symptoms of myocarditis vary, depending on the cause of the disease. Common myocarditis signs and symptoms include:

• Chest pain
• Rapid or abnormal heart rhythms (arrhythmias)
• Shortness of breath, at rest or during physical activity
• Fluid retention with swelling of your legs, ankles and feet
• Fatigue
• Other signs and symptoms of a viral infection, such as a headache, body aches, joint pain, fever, a sore throat or diarrhea

Causes

Often, the cause of myocarditis isn’t identified. Potential causes are many, but the likelihood of developing myocarditis is rare. Potential causes include:

• Viruses
• Parasites
• Bacteria
• Fungi
• Chemicals or Raditation
• Illicit Drugs

Complications

Severe myocarditis can permanently damage your heart muscle, possibly causing:

• Heart Failure
• Heart Attack or Stroke
• Arrhythmias
• Sudden Cardiac Death

Treatment

In many cases, myocarditis improves on its own or with treatment, leading to a complete recovery. Myocarditis treatment focuses on the cause and the symptoms, such as heart failure.

In mild cases, persons should avoid competitive sports for at least three to six months. Rest and medication to help your body fight off the infection causing myocarditis might be all you need. Although antiviral medications are available, they haven’t proved effective in the treatment of most cases of myocarditis.

Certain rare types of viral myocarditis, such as giant cell and eosinophilic myocarditis, respond to corticosteroids or other medications to suppress your immune system. In some cases caused by chronic illnesses, such as lupus, treatment is directed at the underlying disease.