Pericarditis: Infection In The Heart

If an infection in the body is not controlled, it can spread to the lining of the heart, which causes pericarditis. The infection can be caused by wounds that are left untreated or a weak immune system that just can't fight off simple ailments, but it is most commonly caused by teeth problems, such as rotten teeth or gingivitis. The bacteria in the mouth quickly spreads to the blood system when a person eats food. And when it gets to the blood system, it is carried to the heart. This in turn makes the lining of the heart inflamed. If this condition is left uncontrolled, it poses a serious health risk to a person. But luckily, there are treatment options that are available.

Symptoms

Pericarditis symptoms include weakness and fatigue because the body is desperately trying to fight off the infection. Simple tasks will cause exhaustion, and no matter how much rest a person gets, they will still feel tired. And since all blood flows through the heart, when its lining is infected, it can carry this infection throughout the entire body, which leads to a systemic infection that can become life
The inflammation puts pressure on the heart, which makes it uncomfortable and sore. One might feel pain in the region of the heart if they press on their chest there. The constant soreness can be scary because someone might think that they are having a heart attack. This is usually how pericarditis is diagnosed. The chest pains become severe enough that they warrant a trip to the emergency room. And when the emergency room doctor does an x-ray to check the heart, they can see the inflammation and infection that is present. Blood tests will confirm the diagnosis since there will be a considerable increase in the amount of white blood cells present as the body attempts to fight off the infection. It is also common for someone to have a low grade fever and low blood pressure