Myocarditis is an inflammatory disease accompanied by damage to the heart muscle. This condition is extremely dangerous, because if left untreated, it often leads to the development of heart and vascular insufficiency. So what do the main symptoms of myocarditis look like? Is there really an effective treatment for the disease?
Myocarditis and its causes
In fact, the inflammatory process can be caused by many factors of the internal and external environment. Most often, the disease develops against the background of an infection. Almost any bacterial or viral disease can cause myocarditis.
In addition, inflammation often occurs against the background of toxic tissue damage. Interestingly, potentially dangerous substances can come from outside (for example, some poisons) or be the waste products of pathogenic organisms, including some multicellular parasites.
Quite often, the symptoms of myocarditis occur against the background of a strong allergic reaction. In addition, some of the reasonsautoimmune diseases.
Myocarditis: symptoms and treatment
In fact, the clinical picture may be different. In this case, everything depends on the severity of organic lesions of the myocardium, as well as on the underlying cause of the disease. For example, if an inflammatory process occurs against the background of a bacterial infection, then the first signs appear after a few weeks. At the same time, in case of poisoning, the symptoms of myocarditis can develop over several hours.
First of all, there is severe fatigue, drowsiness, as well as constant weakness. Body temperature, as a rule, remains normal and only in some cases rises to subfebrile levels. Tachycardia and arrhythmia are also symptoms of myocarditis.
Along with this comes severe shortness of breath. It can be observed both during physical activity (and even the weakest), and at rest. Some patients complain of nocturnal shortness of breath, which naturally affects the state of the body and quality of life.
Quite often, inflammation is accompanied by discomfort and a slight burning sensation in the region of the heart. In turn, acute myocarditis can lead to the appearance of very severe pain, resembling an angina attack or even myocardial infarction. In such cases, you must immediately take the person to the hospital.
Sometimes the symptoms of myocarditis are more noticeable and life threatening. As already mentioned, if left untreated, the disease can provoke the development of cardiac and vascularinsufficiency. Such complications have characteristic external signs. In particular, a good specialist will immediately notice the cyanosis of the nasolabial triangle, the skin on the hands and feet, as well as the swelling of the vein in the neck. Along with this, a decrease in systolic pressure can be observed.
As for the treatment, with such a disease, it is first of all important to determine its cause, on which the choice of effective treatment depends. For example, with a bacterial infection, antibiotics are needed, and with allergies, antihistamines are needed. In addition, anti-inflammatory drugs are used, including those containing corticosteroids. During treatment, the patient requires strict bed rest and an appropriate diet with a minimum amount of s alt.
