The pericardium is a thin sac-like membrane around the heart. Pericarditis is when the pericardium swells and becomes irritated. This condition can be caused by many things like infections, heart attacks or trauma to the heart. Read on to learn more about identify pericarditis.
Instructions
1. Evaluate the extent of the chest pain. Chest pain from pericarditis is usually a sharp pain coming from the left side of the chest underneath the breastbone. The pain might radiate into your left arm or into your neck. Chest pain occurs because the pericardium is pressing up against the outer part of the heart.
2. Determine if you are experiencing any other symptoms such as shortness of breath when resting, low-grade fever, body weakness, tiredness, dry cough or swelling of the abdomen.
3. Consider any medications you are taking. Blood thinner or antibiotics can cause pericarditis.
4. Try to remember if you have recently experienced any trauma to the left side of your body. Sometimes car accidents are the cause of pericarditis.
5. List out any health disorders you have. Sometimes inflammatory disorders like rheumatoid arthritis or other disorders like kidney disease or AIDs can cause pericarditis.
Tags: cause pericarditis, Chest pain, disorders like, into your, left side