Inflammation is a normal
body reaction to wounds or infections. Imagine if your finger is injured.
Usually at a short time, the tissue around the wound swells and becomes red.
Symptoms of inflammation are generally like this. The body's immune system
produces special cells in the wound and makes repairs. Sometimes, this can
speed up the healing process, but inflammation can also be very dangerous.
Myocarditis is a disease
characterized by inflammation of the heart muscle or myocardium, which is the
muscle layer of the heart wall. This muscle is responsible for pumping blood
into and out of the heart to all parts of the body. If the muscle is inflamed,
blood will not pump properly, causing problems such as irregular heartbeat,
difficulty breathing, and in extreme cases blood clots, heart attacks, strokes
or heart damage can occur.
What causes myocarditis?
Myocarditis is generally
caused by a virus, bacteria, or fungal infection. When the infection tries to
attack, the immune system fights it by releasing chemicals to fight disease.
This is what causes inflammation to occur.
However, inflammation can
actually weaken the heart. Some autoimmune diseases, such as lupus, can cause
the immune system to fight the heart, causing inflammation and damage. It is
difficult to determine exactly what causes myocarditis, but here are some
potential causes:
Virus
Viruses are the most
common cause of myocarditis. Some of these include coxsackie B virus,
adenovirus (causing colds) and parvovirus B19 (causing rash fifth disease).
Other possibilities
include echoviruses (gastrointestinal disease), Epstein-Barr (mononucleosis)
and rubella (measles). AIDS sufferers also have a higher risk.
Bacteria
Although rare,
myocarditis can be caused by staphylococcus, streptococcus, bacteria that cause
Lyme disease and diphtheria.
Mushrooms
Candida fungal
infections, molds and other fungi can cause myocarditis.
Parasite
Parasites are small
insects carried by insects, which can cause myocarditis and other diseases.
Parasites are more common in Central or South America.
Inflammatory disease
Diseases that can cause
inflammation in other parts of the body, such as rheumatoid arthritis, can also
cause myocarditis.
What are the symptoms of myocarditis?
Myocarditis can be
dangerous, because it can occur to anyone, at any age and often occurs without
showing any symptoms. The symptoms themselves often resemble flu symptoms, such
as fatigue, fever, joint pain or swelling, and chest pain. This can make
myocarditis difficult to diagnose.
Myocarditis often attacks
healthy people and is considered the cause of sudden death in young adults.
Often, myocarditis can
disappear by itself without treatment, such as a wound on the finger that will
heal on its own.
Even more serious cases
may not cause symptoms in heart failure, but can damage the heart muscle.
However, the heart may also show obstacles encountered, with symptoms such as:
•
Fatigue
•
Hard to breathe
•
Palpitations of the heart or heart that are beating
fast
•
Fever
•
Chest pain
•
Congestive heart failure
How to diagnose myocarditis?
Although myocarditis is
difficult to diagnose, doctors can do several tests to narrow down the possible
causes. A blood test can see signs of infection or inflammation and X-rays in
the chest can indicate signs of heart failure.
An electrocardiogram
(ECG) can detect heartbeat abnormalities or damage to the heart muscle, and an
echocardiogram (ultrasound) can detect swelling in the heart.
In certain cases, an
endomyocardial biopsy can be performed by a doctor who examines a small part of
the heart tissue.
Treatment for myocarditis
Treatment depends on how
severe inflammation occurs. In some cases, the swelling will disappear by
itself and you will recover completely. If you have a problem, your doctor can
prescribe anti-inflammatory drugs to help with the process.
You will also be
recommended to take a break and a low-salt diet, and you may be given a
diuretic to remove excess fluid in the body. Antibiotics can also help deal
with infections caused by bacteria, and corticosteroids can reduce
inflammation.
If the heart has
difficulty pumping properly, the doctor will also prescribe medications that
can help blood vessels relax and blood flow more smoothly.
Other drugs can also help
control an irregular heartbeat.
Almost all of these
treatments can reduce the workload on the heart. In more severe cases, a
pacemaker and defibrillator can be needed.
Or if heart failure
occurs, other procedures can be done at the hospital. If the heart has been
severely damaged, the doctor may recommend a heart transplant.
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