Question 1

what is pericarditis?

Accepted Answer

Inflamation: Inflamation of the membranes of the sac that encloses the heart and part of the major heart vessels. The sac is called the pericardium or sac around the cardium or heart.

Question 2

what causes pericarditis?

Accepted Answer

Pericarditis: Pericarditis is inflammation of the tissue covering of the heart. It is commonly caused by viruses and sometimes other infections or inflammatory diseases. There are other causes also. The viral form generally goes away itself but can recur. Other forms may need special treatment like drainage of the pericardial sac to remove fluid if it interferes with heart function.

Question 3

is pericarditis inherited?

Accepted Answer

No: There are many causes of pericarditis, usually infectious or immunologic in origin, with therapy dictated by the underlying cause.  But it is not thought to be a heritable condition.

Question 4

what are the effects of pericarditis?

Accepted Answer

Pericarditis: Most patients who suffere viral pericarditis have a limited disease that resolves in 2-3 weeks. Occasionally some patients have a more protracted course and with more severe symptoms. Some of these patiens go and develop chornic pericarditis with thickening of the prericardium and eventually symptoms of congestive heart failure.

Question 5

what are the signs of pericarditis relapse?

Accepted Answer

Same symptoms : Relapses are hard to diagnose. Generally, if a condition relapses, you will feel the same symptoms as you had the first time. With pericarditis though, you can get a late constriction where you may feel swelling and abdominal pain.

Question 6

is pericarditis contagious?

Accepted Answer

Not usually: Pericarditis is inflammation of the sack surrounding the heart.  Can be painful and life-threatening if associated with significant fluid accumulation compromising blood return to heart.  In U.S., there may be infectious causes, e.g., tuberculosis, but these are not transmissible to others.

Question 7

which viruses cause pericarditis?

Accepted Answer

Several: Echo and coxsackie or less commonly influenza or hiv.

Question 8

how can you prevent pericarditis?

Accepted Answer

Pericarditis: Simple. You can't :-)
it's an inflammatory process...

Question 9

what is constrictive pericarditis?

Accepted Answer

Pericarditis: Constrictive pericarditis involves stiffening/thickening/hardening of the pericardium or "heart sack". This can be caused by many disease processes. Constrictive pericarditis results in restricting the filling of the heart which in turn may cause shortness of breath, swelling etc..

Question 10

can you fly if you have pericarditis?

Accepted Answer

Depends: Are you talking about an active inflammation, on medications, fluid around the heart, any symptoms? It all depends on how severe is the pericarditis. Probably don't fly if symptomatic. Commercial flights are pressurized to about 6000ft altitude of denver, co. That may or may not cause symptoms.

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Pericarditis and luekemia

A member asked:

What is pericarditis?

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What causes pericarditis?

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Is pericarditis inherited?

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What are the effects of pericarditis?

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What are the signs of pericarditis relapse?

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Is pericarditis contagious?

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Which viruses cause pericarditis?

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How can you prevent pericarditis?

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What is constrictive pericarditis?

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Can you fly if you have pericarditis?

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