Myocarditis is a disorder in which inflammation is present in the heart muscle, known as myocardium. It is a severe clinical disorder, so anyone must undergo regular medical checks. Many causes can lead to myocarditis, but it is usually due to bacteria or a viral infection.
The main consequence of this pathology is a failure in what is known as a heat pump; in other words, there is a considerable decrease in the ability of the heart to pump blood to the rest of the body. In addition, this heart disease can also cause the presence of arrhythmias. If you want to know more about this alteration, at FastlyHealwe invite you to read the following article on acute myocarditis: symptoms and treatment.
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Acute myocarditis: causes
Although myocarditis is a rare disorder, most cases occur when an infection reaches the heart and affects it. The body’s immune system is responsible for producing several special cells to fight disease. Still, because of the chemicals in the cells and destroyed pathogens, the heart begins to swell, thicken, and weak at the same time.
Many cases of acute myocarditis are caused by a virus that reaches the heart. It can be any virus, such as those that cause influenza, parvovirus, or cytomegalovirus, among several others.
Other diseases and viruses that can also cause myocarditis are:
- Lyme’s disease
- Chlamydia
- Strep like scarlet fever
- Mycoplasmas
Similarly, a risk group is also those patients with various pathologies who must consume medications frequently, those who suffer from an allergic reaction to some drug, those who are exposed to radiation, those who suffer from infections by parasites or fungi and diseased immune systems, although in some cases an exact cause may not be found.
Acute myocarditis: symptoms
It is possible that in some patients, there are no symptoms of any kind, so it is essential to undergo regular medical check-ups to detect any disorder and carry out the indicated treatment without allowing the condition to worsen, especially if there is already a history of heart problems or infections. Serious.
Despite this, when symptoms are present, they can be very similar to those of the flu. Among them the following stand out:
- Fever
- Chest discomfort that can resemble a heart attack
- Inflammation
- Joint pain
- Fatigue
- Swelling in the feet and legs
- Accelerated heart rate
- Accelerated breathing
- Pallor
- Cold extremities, indicating poor circulation
And different signs of myocardial infection such as:
- Migraine
- Throat or muscle discomfort
- Rashes
- Diarrhea
Acute myocarditis can also cause poor urine production and fainting, closely linked to an irregular heartbeat. If you have any or more of these symptoms, it is essential to consult a doctor as soon as possible.
Acute myocarditis: treatment
How is it diagnosed?
Reaching the diagnosis of myocarditis can be difficult only by following the presented symptoms since some symptoms coincide with respiratory or cardiac conditions. In addition to the physical examination, to rule out other pathologies, a chest x-ray can be used, an image in which it could be seen whether or not there is an inflammation of the heart muscle. If so, and to accurately determine myocarditis, it is necessary to perform an electrocardiogram. Other tests that the specialist might indicate are:
- A complete blood test
- Microbiological cultures
- PCR technique to determine the pathogen
Treatment for myocarditis
The treatment of acute myocarditis will depend exclusively on the cause of the disease. Among the most common procedures are antibiotics prescribed by a specialist to eliminate infection caused by bacteria, anti-inflammatory drugs to reduce swelling, and a low-salt diet to care for the heart.
Also, intravenous immunoglobulin treatment can be performed, consisting of various antibodies to control the disease process and fight infection. Likewise, the doctor may recommend diuretics if it is necessary to get rid of excess water in the body and reduce physical activity.
Other drugs may be needed when the myocardium is significantly weakened and heart failure is significant. If the heart rhythm is irregular, the enrollee may insert a pacemaker or cardioverter-defibrillator and prescribe anticoagulants if the patient has blood clots. Heart transplantation may also be necessary, but this is very rare and is used in extreme cases.
This article is merely informative, at FastlyHeal .com we do not have the power to prescribe medical treatments or make any diagnosis. We invite you to see a doctor in the case of presenting any condition or discomfort.
If you want to read more articles similar to Acute myocarditis: symptoms and treatment , we recommend that you enter our category of Blood, heart and circulation .
I am a Surgeon with a diploma in comprehensive ultrasound and surgical care residency, an area I am specializing in. During the exercise of my profession, I have realized the need for patients to know the diseases they suffer, and I can tell you that a large part of their complications is due to a lack of information. Being a health web writer allows me to transmit my experience, without borders, to all those readers eager for knowledge, educate them in the prevention of diseases and promote a healthy lifestyle.