About this topic
The pericardium is a fluid-filled sac that wraps around your heart. This sac helps protect your heart. When this sac is inflamed, it is pericarditis. This problem makes it hard for your heart to work well. This is most often caused by: ‚
- Infection
- Heart attack
- Kidney failure
- Radiation treatment
- Chest injuries, surgeries, or illnesses
- Autoimmune diseases
What care is needed at home?
- Ask your doctor what you need to do when you go home. Make sure you ask questions if you do not understand what the doctor says. This way you will know what you need to do.
- Take your drugs as ordered by your doctor.
- Get plenty of rest. Sleep when you are feeling tired. Avoid doing tiring activities.
What follow-up care is needed?
Your doctor may ask you to make visits to the office to check on your progress. Be sure to keep these visits. ‚
What drugs may be needed?
The doctor may order drugs to: ‚
- Help with pain and swelling
- Fight an infection
Will physical activity be limited?
You may have to limit your activity. Talk to your doctor about the right amount of activity for you. ‚
What changes to diet are needed?
- Follow a healthy diet.
- Eat many different foods rich in nutrients from all food groups.
- Stay away from sugars and fats. Limit sweets and fatty foods such as desserts, fried foods, and chips. Use good fats found in fish, nuts, avocados, and oils, like olive oil and canola oil. Cut back on solid fats (butter, lard, margarine).
- Try to eat more low fat or lean meats, chicken, and turkey. Eat less red meat and eat more fish and beans instead.
- Ask if you need to follow a low salt diet.
- Do not drink beer, wine, and mixed drinks (alcohol).
What problems could happen?
- Heart failure
- Irregular beating of the heart
- Lung problems
- Fluid in the pericardium may become infected and need to be drained.
What can be done to prevent this health problem?
There is no known way to prevent this health problem. ‚
When do I need to call the doctor?
Go to the ER or seek emergency care right away if you have these signs of pericarditis: ‚
- Chest pain
- Pain in your left shoulder or neck
- Hard to breathe, even when at rest
Call your doctor for these other signs: ‚
- Signs of infection. These include fever of 100.4 ‚ °F (38 ‚ °C) or higher, chills.
- Feeling that your heart is skipping a beat or beating too fast
- Coughing
- Hard to swallow
- Swelling in your ankles, feet, or legs
- Health problem is not better or you are feeling worse
Teach Back: Helping You Understand
The Teach Back Method helps you understand the information we are giving you. The idea is simple. After talking with the staff, tell them in your own words what you were just told. This helps to make sure the staff has covered each thing clearly. It also helps to explain things that may have been a bit confusing. Before going home, make sure you are able to do these: ‚
- I can tell you about my condition.
- I can tell you what changes I need to make with my diet or drugs.
- I can tell you what I will do if I have chest pain, pain in my shoulder or neck, or it is hard to breathe.
Where can I learn more?
National Heart Lung and Blood Institute ‚
http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/peri/ ‚
Consumer Information Use and Disclaimer
This information is not specific medical advice and does not replace information you receive from your health care provider. This is only a brief summary of general information. It does NOT include all information about conditions, illnesses, injuries, tests, procedures, treatments, therapies, discharge instructions or life-style choices that may apply to you. You must talk with your health care provider for complete information about your health and treatment options. This information should not be used to decide whether or not to accept your health care providers advice, instructions or recommendations. Only your health care provider has the knowledge and training to provide advice that is right for you. ‚
Copyright
Copyright ‚ © 2015 Clinical Drug Information, LLC and Lexi-Comp, Inc. ‚