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Illustrated by Echo Medical Media
Cause: A virus, bad cold, flu, or other illness may inflame, or swell, the pericardium (the tissue that lines the heart). With temporary pericarditis, the swelling disappears on its own as the illness retreats. Chronic pericarditis may be caused by other ailments, such as rheumatoid arthritis or lupus.
Prevention: Like the common cold, this type of swelling can’t be prevented.
If untreated: Sometimes the condition gets better on its own in a week or two.
Remedies: Anti-inflammatory drugs, such as ibuprofen, can help ease the pain. If diagnosed with a bacterial infection of the heart, you may need a biopsy—a procedure in which a needle is inserted into the surrounding area—to determine the type of bacteria causing the problem. Then your doctor can prescribe an appropriate antibiotic. Sometimes steroids are used for severe attacks.
Cutting edge: In some cases, surgery may be required to remove the pericardium if it has become increasingly stiff.
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