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The pericardium is what holds your heart in place, shields it from infection, and prevents it from over expanding when blood volume rises. This delicate structure is made of a two-layered, thin sac that is filled with fluid. But sometimes, the tissues of the sac can get inflamed, and rub against the heart, and each other. This is occurrence is known as pericarditis.  Certain characteristics such as chest pain, friction rubs of the pericardial and ECG changes in pericarditis are quite common.

Pericarditis is associated with ECG changes and findings through its various stages, such as:

• Stage 1 (first two weeks of condition) – Widespread PR depression and ST elevation with reciprocal changes in a VR.
• Stage 2 (one to three weeks) – T wave flattening and ST changes normalizing.
• Stage 3 (three to several weeks) – Inversion of flattened T waves
• Stage 4 (after several weeks) -  Normalization of ECG patterns
  

Although less than 50% of patients go through all the four stages, evolution in change will vary from patient to patient. ECG changes differ with the type of pericarditis.

Acute pericarditis is usually due to some sort on irritation to the pericardium. Many conditions can result in this condition, these are:

• Heart attacks
• Cardiac surgery
• Rheumatic arthritis
• Renal or kidney failure
• Injury or trauma to the chest
• Cancer
• AIDS
• Rheumatic fever
• Post-radiation therapy
• Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
• Side effects of certain drugs
  

The most common symptoms of pericarditis is stabbing chest pain accompanied by fever. The chest pain can sometimes radiate to the neck, shoulders, back, and is said to be similar to that of a heart attack. The pain worsens when laying down, coughing, breathing deeply or swallowing. In this condition, the accumulated fluid or blood in pericardial sac starts to exert pressure on the heart, causing it to interfere with its blood pumping ability. Sometimes the pressure can go extremely high, causing cardiac tamponade which can be potentially dangerous. In cardiac tamponade, the person’s blood pressure falls rapidly to abnormal levels, and the pulse starts to weaken when breathing in. The blood pressure elevates and the pulse gets stronger when the person breathes out. This extreme variation in blood pressure causes the heart to compress and the blood pressure to remain low, sometimes resulting in death. An ECG can detect changes characteristic to cardiac tamponade.

Diagnosis of acute pericarditis is done on the basis of the patient’s description of chest pain and the sound of the heart. A person’s heart makes a crunching sound that sounds like the rustling of dry leaves, in this condition. In addition to this, an ECG and chest x-ray will be advised.

Treatment for acute pericarditis depends mainly on the cause of the underlying condition. Medications to reduce the inflammation will be prescribed. One can also use home-care techniques in conjunction with traditional treatment such as:

• Quit smoking and being around secondary smoke. Smoking or passive smoking can help increase symptoms of pericarditis.
• Ask your doctor to recommend some exercises that you can do at home.
• Try and avoid salt in your food.
• Avoid saturated fats, alcoholic drinks, and sugars. This form of food and drinks can increase inflammation and deteriorate your immune system.
• Build your immune system eating a healthy and balanced diet as prescribed by your physician. Avoid processed foods and food additives.
• Take enough rest. Your body will need time to repair itself from the wear and tear it has gone through. Avoid tasks that will tire or induce heavy and rapid breathing.
• With the advice of your physician, you can try herbs such as wild indigo, Siberian ginseng, rosemary, peppermint, rosenip, stinging nettle and thuja.
  

Reference

1. http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/pericarditis-000126.htm

Warning: The reader of this article should exercise all precautionary measures while following instructions on the home remedies from this article. Avoid using any of these products if you are allergic to it. The responsibility lies with the reader and not with the site or the writer.