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Pericarditis
Symptoms of pericarditis include:
- Chest pain. A sharp or dull constant pain often develops. The pain may be located in the center of the chest and sometimes extends over the left shoulder. Deep breathing, lying down, or swallowing may make the pain worse. Sitting up and leaning forward may improve it.
- Mild fever.
- A general feeling of weakness, fatigue, or lightheadedness.
- Shortness of breath.
- Coughing.
- Hiccups.
- Muscle aches.
The type of chest pain that occurs with pericarditis differs from angina, which usually becomes worse with exertion but does not change with deep breathing. You should tell your doctor anytime you have chest pain. In the early stages of pericarditis, it may be hard to tell whether the pain is from the inflammation or from a possible heart attack.
If you develop
complications of pericarditis, you are at risk for
sudden heart failure. Symptoms of sudden heart failure
include sudden severe shortness of breath, a sudden irregular or rapid
heartbeat, and a cough that brings up foamy pink mucus. Sudden heart failure is
a medical emergency that requires immediate care. If you
experience any symptoms of sudden heart failure, call
| By: | Healthwise Staff | Last Revised: April 5, 2011 |
| Medical Review: | E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine Stephen Fort, MD, MRCP, FRCPC - Interventional Cardiology | |
© 1995-2011 Healthwise, Incorporated. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated. This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use. How this information was developed to help you make better health decisions.
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