Myocarditis is a severe however uncommon coronary heart situation that impacts 10 to 20 out of each 100,000 Americans. For comparability, coronary artery illness, which is the commonest coronary heart illness within the U.S., impacts 100 out of each 100,00 individuals. In this Mayo Clinic Minute, Dr. Leslie Cooper, a Mayo Clinic heart specialist, explains what myocarditis is and why understanding the chance components is so vital.
Journalists: Broadcast-quality video (1:07) is within the downloads on the finish of this submit. Please courtesy: “Mayo Clinic News Network.” Read the script.
“Myocarditis is simply inflammation of the heart muscle. It affects mostly younger adults, and it’s generally caused by a virus,” says Dr. Cooper.
The commonest symptom of myocarditis is chest ache.
“In an otherwise healthy person, sometimes — a week or so after a viral-type illness — chest pain will develop, sometimes with shortness of breath, and it can be very disabling. It can occur at rest or with activity,” says Dr. Cooper.
Often myocarditis improves by itself with or with out therapy. The therapy focuses on the trigger and signs, akin to coronary heart failure.
“In that setting, we always treat heart failure with guideline-directed medications. But the chest pain specifically can be treated with anti-inflammatory medicines.”
Because testosterone is a driver of irritation, which might make a viral an infection extra extreme, younger males are typically extra affected and have a tendency to have extra extreme illnesses.
Dr. Cooper says consciousness of myocarditis signs and threat components is vital.
“If you develop symptoms of chest pain without any explanation or shortness of breath, particularly after a viral-type illness, it’s important to seek medical care promptly,” says Dr. Cooper.
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