Pericarditis Pericardial Sac Inflammation Causes Sharp Chest Pain Symptoms

Your heart sits in a dual layered sac of fibrous tissue known as the pericardium. This pericardial sac contains a small amount of fluid between its layers, which provides for “cushiony” heart movement.

Pericarditis is inflammation of this squishy paricardial sac.  And swelling and irritation of this thin sac often causes sharp chest pain because it rubs against your heart.

If your pericarditis is compounded with an increase of sac fluid, then you’re suffering with pericardial effusion. And possibly pleural effusion as well.

Pericarditis can be acute or chronic.  With acute pericarditis, the most common symptom experienced is a sharp, stabbing chest pain in the middle or slightly to the left of center.

Some depict this chest pain as a dull ache or heaviness amid varying degrees of intensity.  The sharp pain of pericardial inflammation routinely:

  • comes on quick
  • may travel into left shoulder & neck
  • eases with forward lean while seated
  • worsens with lying down, deep breathing

Ofttimes, it’s difficult to distinguish sharp pericardial chest pain from heart attack chest pain symptoms.  If you’re not sure, calling for emergency assist (911 in U.S.) is prudent because you may be having a heart attack.

Other symptoms that may occur simultaneous with pericarditis sharp chest pain entail:

Some symptoms depend on the location of your pericardium inflammation.  If your swelling is adjacent to lung tissue, you’ll experience inhale related symptoms.  Painful swallowing indicates inflammation is near your esophagus.

Chronic pericarditis causes similar symptoms, but your stabbing chest pain is likely absent and hypotensionmay be present.

Frequently, the underlining cause for an inflamed pericardial sac is difficult to determined.  The top suspect for this health complication is a viral infection.  A couple of those viruses are:

Infections with bacteria can lead to purulent pericarditis. However, since the antibiotics came on the health scene, bacterial infections causing pericardial inflammation are rare.

The most common bacteria that can cause your pericardium to become swollen and inflamed include:

Pericarditis can also develop after a major heart attack or heart surgery.  If your pericarditis is a delayed reaction to either, then it is known as Dressler’s syndrome. This syndrome is believed to be due to your body’s mistaken immune response.

Other health condition occasionally causing pericarditis include:

Albeit unusual, medications that suppress your immune system or these medications can cause pericarditis:

If too much fluid collects in the pericardium, cardiac tamponade can result. A glut of fluid adds pressure to your heart and it doesn’t fill properly.  Which in turn causes a life-threatening drop in blood pressure.

Constrictive pericarditis is another complication of pericarditis.  It develops over time and causes scarring throughout your pericardium. Your pericardial sac gets stiff, causing heart pumping constriction.  And heart failure may be down the road.

Most cases of pericarditis are mild.  However, a trip to your health care professional is advisable.

Mild cases of pericardial sac inflammation tend get better with rest and simple treatment.  Your health care person may recommend bed rest until you’re feeling better.

Medications may be recommended or prescribed, such as:

Acute pericarditis can last from a week to a month.  Some experience a pericarditis recurrence within the first year of their initial episode.

A full health recovery can be expected with rest and appropriate treatment.

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