What is Pericarditis?

Pericarditis is a swelling and irritation of the pericardium, the thin sac-like membrane that surrounds your heart. Pericarditis often causes chest pain and sometimes other symptoms. Pericarditis may be acute or chronic. The sharp chest pain associated with acute pericarditis occurs when the pericardium rubs against the heart's outer layer.

For more information about Pericarditis and the causes, symptoms and treatments involved, visit http://www.imedisearch.com/results.php?cof=FORID%3...

This info came from the two websites below. Check 'em out.

The hearts sits in the center of the chest and is surrounded by a thin sac called the pericardium. This sac has two layers, one that fits tightly onto the heart muscle and another looser layer surrounding the inner layer. Inflammation (swelling and irritation) of these tissue layers surrounding the heart is referred to as pericarditis.

Pericarditis often causes chest pain and sometimes other symptoms. Pericarditis may be acute or chronic. The sharp chest pain associated with acute pericarditis occurs when the pericardium rubs against the heart's outer layer.

Mild cases may improve on their own. Treatment for more-severe cases may include medications and, rarely, surgery. Early diagnosis and treatment may help to reduce the risk of long-term complications.

There are many causes of pericarditis. Most often the cause is unknown. Causes of pericarditis are listed below:

Idiopathic

---The cause of the illness is not identified (although often it's the result of a minor viral illness or "cold")

Mechanical injury to the heart

---Heart attack (myocardial infarction) and Dressler's syndrome

---Heart surgery and post pericardiotomy syndrome

---Trauma

Infection Bacterial

---Viral

---Fungal

---HIV

Tumors or cancer

---Primary (rare)

---Metastatic

Connective Tissue Disease

---Rheumatoid arthritis

---Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE)

---Sarcoidosis

---Scleroderma

Metabolic diseases

---Uremia (kidney failure)

---Hypothyroidism

Medication Reactions

---Side effects of certain medications can cause an immune response causing an inflammation of the pericardial sac and pericarditis. Medicines that have been implicated include phenytoin (Dilantin), hydralazine (Apresoline) and procainamide (Pronestyl, Procan-SR, Procanbid).

Hope that helps.

the heart is covered by a thin sheath of fibrous tissue, sort of a sac, called the "pericardium". This pericardium consists of 2 layers, one called the "visceral" pericardium, which is directly on top of the heart, and the "parietal" pericardium, which is on top of the visceral layer. Between them is a very small amount of fluid to prevent friction between the 2 layers as the heart contracts and relaxes.

When this pericardium becomes inflammed (hot, swollen, red, painful, and loses its function), it is called Pericarditis.

It is a serious condition, because pericarditis prevents the heart from pumping normally. This presents with chest pain and shortness of breath.

It is divided into acute - that happened suddenly, within weeks,

and chronic - of longer duration and onset

There is many causes, mostly viral infections. other infective causes include: bacterial, fungal, and tuberculous. Pericarditis can also occur following injury, some systemic autoimmune inflammatory diseases (that means that the body's immune system attacks the body's own cells) and exposure to radiation.

However many of the cases of pericarditis are of unknown cause (called "idiopathic".

If it is not treated on the long term, either one of 2 things happens:

the fluid between the 2 layers of the pericardium builds up, or "constrictive pericarditis" develops, in which the inflammed pericardium thickens and becomes hard.

In both scenarios, the heart does not pump properly, eventually fails, and water starts building up in your whole body, especially your feet and lungs, causing serious problems, and the body is deprived from blood.

The diagnosis depends on the history that the patient gives and we do certain test, including ECG\EKG, which tells us how the heart is pumping, or we can do ECHO that shows us an image while the heart is pumping, among others

The treatment depends on the cause, but usually we aim at reducing the inflammation by giving steroids, and treating any infection.

For further information, check out the link i posted below.

I hope i have helped!

Pericarditis is inflammation of the pericardium, often with fluid accumulation. Pericarditis may be caused by many disorders (eg, infection, MI (Myocardial infarction), trauma, tumors, metabolic disorders) but is often idiopathic (self-originated; occurring without known cause). Symptoms include chest pain or tightness, often worsened by deep breathing. Cardiac output may be greatly reduced. Diagnosis is based on symptoms, a friction rub, ECG changes, and evidence of pericardial fluid accumulation on x-ray or echocardiogram. Finding the cause requires further evaluation. Treatment depends on the cause, but general measures include analgesics, anti-inflammatory drugs, and sometimes surgery.(Merck)

Pericarditis is a condition in which the sac-like covering around the heart (pericardium) becomes inflamed. The condition can occur in the days or weeks following a heart attack.

Bacterial pericarditis is irritation and swelling of the sac that surrounds the heart (pericardium), due to infection by bacteria.

Constrictive pericarditis is long-term (chronic) inflammation of the sac-like covering of the heart (the pericardium) with thickening, scarring, and muscle tightening (contracture).(MedlinePlus)

What Is Pericarditis

It's the inflammation of the area around the heart, the fibrous sack.

It can be caused by an infection (viral, bacterial or fungal) or many other things (radiation, side effect of medicine, a heart attack, kidney failure).

Pericardium is the tissue sack that surrounds the heart.

-Itis means inflammation

Inflammation of the Heart Sack then.