Myocarditis

A Myocarditis or Myocarditis is a disease of the heart. This inflammation of the heart muscle can be chronic or acute. Heart muscle inflammation can have serious physical consequences without treatment and should therefore be treated by a doctor.

What is myocarditis?

At a Myocarditis, in the technical term too Myocarditis called, it comes to an inflammation of the heart muscle or the pericardium. If the pericardium is also affected, however, doctors speak of perimyocarditis. However, when diagnosing it is often difficult to separate the two diseases.

The inflammation of the heart muscle leads to the disruption of the heart's ability to contract. This leads to a drop in physical performance or even heart failure. This inflammation is also, in some cases, known to be the cause of sudden cardiac death.

causes

The Myocarditis is most commonly caused by viruses in western countries. The best known here is an infection with the Coxsackie B virus. This is often the cause of colds and meningitis. A flu infection that has not healed or a gastrointestinal flu can also lead to myocarditis.

Especially if the disease is not cured properly and the person concerned exhausts himself physically too early, such as in endurance sports. A bacterial disease can also cause myocarditis. The most common diseases here are diphtheria, scarlet fever and borreliosis. This is a tick-bite disease.

In rare cases, the heart muscle can become inflamed even after infection with fungi, parasites, or unicellular organisms such as toxoplasmosis. Heart muscle inflammation due to an autoimmune disease, radiation therapy or the use of medication or drugs is less common, but possible.

Symptoms, ailments & signs

Heart muscle inflammation is often a serious disease, but it is not that easy to diagnose because in many cases no symptoms or only unspecific symptoms occur. These unspecific complaints can also indicate other diseases. Many of those affected complain of general inefficiency and fatigue.

If the states of exhaustion increase and at the same time shortness of breath occurs with the slightest exertion, this is a serious warning sign of possible myocarditis. These symptoms are often accompanied by loss of appetite, weight loss, headaches, and body aches. In some people, direct heart symptoms such as palpitations, tightness in the chest (angina pectoris) or even heart stumbling increase.

The arrhythmias such as palpitations or uncoordinated heartbeats often intensify. Physical performance is also increasingly reduced. Young people then also have increasing difficulties climbing stairs and all other activities. In severe cases, heart failure results, which is characterized by water retention in the body, severe shortness of breath and visible congestion of the neck veins.

However, the serious cases of myocarditis are rare. Sometimes there are only slight symptoms or no symptoms at all. In other cases, however, even after a banal flu-like infection, acute myocarditis occurs, which develops very quickly and can lead to severe heart failure within a short time. Sometimes the only way to save the patient's life is through a heart transplant.

Course of disease

The course of a Myocarditis or. Myocarditis can be very different.

There are few problematic courses of myocarditis with only very weak symptoms, but also severe cases. These can even be fatal. At first, the person concerned notices a general weakness, which is also noticeable in daily activities.

In addition, there can be rapid signs of fatigue and weight loss. Pain in the limbs is also an occasional symptom of heart muscle inflammation.

Furthermore, so-called heart stumbling, palpitations or pain in the chest area can occur. Depending on the severity of the disease, even simple physical activities can lead to shortness of breath or even shortness of breath.

If the heart's function is already restricted by the inflammation of the heart muscle, water will accumulate in the legs or lungs. A chronic course is also possible. This causes the heart muscle to enlarge, but lose its ability to contract.

Complications

Heart muscle inflammation is a very serious disease which, in the worst case, can lead to patient death. The inflammation will reduce life expectancy if not treated promptly. The patients suffer from severe heart problems. Usually there is pain in the heart area and the heart beats faster than usual.

Likewise, the person concerned feels weak and can no longer be stressed in the usual way. Even ordinary and simple activities can appear exhausting for the patient. There is weight loss and continued pain in the limbs. As the heart muscle inflammation progresses, shortness of breath occurs, which in most patients also leads directly to a panic attack. The patient's quality of life is extremely limited by the inflammation of the heart muscle. Without treatment, spontaneous cardiac death can occur.

The general condition of the patient deteriorates and it is not uncommon for concentration disorders or thought disorders to occur. Myocarditis can be treated with the help of antibiotics, with no particular complications. However, it cannot be predicted whether the heart will be irreversibly damaged by the myocarditis and whether this may reduce the patient's life expectancy.

When should you go to the doctor?

Since the symptoms of myocarditis are quite unspecific, diagnosis is difficult. Myocarditis can go unnoticed for a long time, but that does not mean that it is harmless. Heart failure, shortness of breath and similar symptoms should be investigated as soon as possible.

One of the key symptoms, the febrile infection, is not yet an urgent problem. However, if a heart condition of any kind occurs in connection with this (weakness despite rest, breathing problems, palpitations, etc.), myocarditis is suspected. A doctor should be consulted urgently. The first point of contact is the family doctor, who then refers you to a cardiologist if necessary.

Especially people who already have a weak heart should see a doctor quickly if their feelings change. The same applies to people who do excessive sport. This can be fatal in combination with myocarditis.

A quick visit to the doctor and quick treatment are always in the interests of the person concerned. Otherwise, the infection can be spread or spread. Consequential damage to the heart is worse, the longer the myocarditis remains untreated.

Doctors & therapists in your area

Treatment & Therapy

Treating a Myocarditis usually takes place with medication. If there is an infection by bacteria, this is treated with the use of antibiotics. If the heart muscle inflammation was caused by viruses, these cannot be treated with medication. In these cases only the side effects are treated. Painkillers are administered and possible cardiac arrhythmias are treated with special medication.

If the inflammation of the heart muscle has already led to heart failure, this is combated with a mixture of diuretic drugs, ACE inhibitors and beta blockers. In the case of a large effusion, this is punctured, i.e. the liquid is sucked off. If an autoimmune disease is the cause of the heart muscle inflammation, this is also treated with the administration of cortisone. This is supposed to suppress the body's defenses.

If the inflammation has already led to severe and permanent damage to the heart, the last alternative is a heart transplant. In order to prevent heart muscle inflammation, you should take extra care if you have a fever. Even if you have a simple cold, you should not exercise.

Outlook & forecast

If the patient adheres to the medical guidelines, he has a good prognosis for heart muscle inflammation. With consistent restraint, a healthy lifestyle and the avoidance of stress, the disease progresses well and heals for most of those affected. The inflammation of the heart muscle heals completely and usually without any further sequelae.

Overexertion should be avoided during the healing process, otherwise complications and a life-threatening condition can occur. About 15% of the sick develop a chronic course of myocarditis. The functional activity of the heart is permanently restricted and the resilience is reduced. This has implications for the patient's health and prognosis. A change in everyday processes is necessary so that the heart function does not deteriorate. For many of those affected, professional and sporting activities have to be restructured and restricted.

The general efficiency of the patient decreases and the susceptibility to illness increases. Many patients report shortness of breath and receive lifelong medication. If severe cardiac arrhythmias occur, the heart muscle inflammation can lead to a fatal outcome. Sudden cardiac death is the result of the irregularities. Basically, patients with heart muscle inflammation have to undergo regular check-ups throughout their lives. The heart's activity is checked so that any discrepancies can be responded to immediately.

Aftercare

With the right aftercare, most heart muscle infections heal without any problems and enable those affected to lead a symptom-free life. Of course, the patient must also contribute to this. In addition to regular check-ups with the attending physician and strict adherence to the drug setting, the person concerned must also observe a three to six month rest period. Sports or other strenuous activities are completely prohibited during this period.

Myocarditis is often caused by infections that have been dragged on and those affected have not spared themselves. Even after complete healing, patients must keep absolute bed rest in the case of future colds or gastrointestinal infections. This does not only apply to a high fever, but to milder symptoms such as a runny nose or cough.

This is the only way to effectively prevent the heart from becoming overloaded and the infection spreading to the heart muscle. Since both a fatty diet and smoking are typical risk factors for heart disease, a change in diet and smoking cessation are inevitable. If the patient tends to be overweight, weight reduction helps to relieve the cardiovascular system.

Everyday life should be redesigned so that stress is avoided. Yoga, meditation or hobbies can be helpful as a balance. Under certain circumstances, psychotherapy can help to cope better with the remaining stress, to find the perfect balance and to relieve the body.

You can do that yourself

Myocarditis (inflammation of the heart muscle) is a disease to be taken very seriously, which must never be treated by yourself, otherwise serious complications threaten.

Whether and what the patient himself can contribute to his healing depends on the cause of the myocarditis. If the disease is due to a bacterial or viral infection, which is often the case, then the patient can speed up recovery by strengthening the body's defenses. A predominantly vegetable, vitamin and fiber-rich diet is helpful. Meat and sausage products, ready meals, sweets, white flour products and luxury foods such as alcohol and cigarettes are counterproductive. In naturopathy, red coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) is used to strengthen the immune system. Such over-the-counter medications should not be taken in the case of heart muscle inflammation without consulting the attending physician.

Regardless of the cause of the myocarditis, physical rest is always required. However, it is essential to follow the medical instructions on this point. The same applies to sporting activities, even if these, such as regular walks, are fundamentally beneficial to health. These activities usually have to be given up during an inflammation of the heart muscle.

Overexertion during convalescence can lead to relapse, which is accompanied by permanent damage to the heart. The patient should therefore take the necessary care.