Myocarditis: Symptoms, Causes and Treatments

Heart muscle may also be inflamed heart failure, learn from experts, its cause and cure

Inflammation in the heart muscle due to any reason is known as ‘myocarditis’. Inflammation of the heart muscle is a virus, bacteria, can be caused by parasites and toxins or drugs. It can also be caused by autoimmune activation against self antigens. The virus is by far the most common infectious cause of myocarditis.

Senior cardiologist Dr Santosh Kumar Dora gave talks in detail about the myocarditis.

Symptoms of Myocarditis

Symptoms of myocarditis are:

•  Chest pain symptoms of myocarditis, shortness of breath, palate may pulsate and more.
•  If due to myocarditis which went impair the heart muscle, so be patient in heart failure.
•  When the heart rate stops, the patient may also have trouble breathing, difficulty in lying down and swelling in the ankle due to fluid retention.
•  Myocarditis can also lead to heart rhythm disturbances, which increases the likelihood of nervousness, dark eyes, and in very severe cases, fainting and cardiac arrest, i.e cardiac arrest.

How to diagnose Myocarditis

Specifically, through Endomyocardial biopsy is used to diagnose myocarditis. However, the aggression of this process is more so it is used less often. Cardiac biomarkers such as increases in the incidence of Trope I and CPK MB myocarditis. Cardiac MRI can help diagnose myocarditis, which is not dangerous. ECG and 2D echocardiogram are also commonly used for screening. Echocardiogram shows the functionality of the heart muscle and valves.

How is Myocarditis Treated

Myocarditis is a process of treatment, using ventricular assist devices that help pump blood from the lower chambers of the heart to the rest of the body. This process aids in heart functions. Apart from this there are many other processes. AICD implantation may be required in some cases to protect against sedimentary cardiac arrest.

How to prevent Myocarditis

Influenza vaccine provides some protection against viral infection and thus myocarditis can be avoided. According to experts, everyone should get the flu vaccine every year before winter. Drugs such as cocaine and toxins can lead to myocarditis. So, such drugs should be strongly avoided. Excessive alcohol can weaken the heart muscle and lead to cardiomyopathy. Thus, drinking excess alcohol should be avoided.

Immune habits such as regular physical exercise, avoiding smoking, a healthy diet with lots of fruits and vegetables stimulate the immune system and develop immunity for most viruses responsible for myocarditis. (Difference between heart attack and cardiac arrest)

Note: This article is based on a conversation with Dr. Santosh Kumar Dora, Senior Cardiologist, Asian Heart Institute, Mumbai.