Pericarditis
The most common symptom of all types of pericarditis is chest pain.
Most people who have had pericarditis describe experiencing a sudden sharp pain, usually behind their breastbone, on the left side of their body. Some people describe the pain as more like a dull ache or feeling of pressure.
The pain may also radiate up from your chest into your left shoulder and neck.
It's usually worse when breathing in, coughing,eating and lying down. Sitting up or leaning forward will usually help relieve the pain.
Always seek immediate medical advice if you experience sudden chest pain Chest pain . While most cases of pericarditis are not serious, it's important that other more serious conditions are ruled out, such as a heart attack or a blood clot .
Visit your local accident and emergency (A&E) department or telephone NHS 111 as soon as possible.
Depending on the underlying cause of your pericarditis, you may also experience:
In some cases, pericarditis occurs along with myocarditis, which is inflammation of the heart muscle.
If these symptoms only occur for a short time or a one-off episode, it's called "acute pericarditis". However, if they last three months or more, it's known as "chronic pericarditis".
Read about the complications of pericarditis for more information.
Recurring pericarditis is when you experience frequent episodes of pericarditis.
There are two main types of recurring pericarditis:
It's estimated that one in four people with a history of acute pericarditis will develop recurring pericarditis.
Pericarditis is swelling of the pericardium, which is the fluid-filled sac that surrounds your heart.
The most common symptom of acute pericarditis is chest pain which is worse when lying down.
It's not always clear what causes pericarditis, although a viral infection is usually suspected.
The first stage in the diagnosis of pericarditis is to ask about your symptoms and recent medical history.
Pericarditis is usually treated with medication, although surgery is used in rare cases.
In rare cases, pericarditis can develop into further problems, some of which can be life-threatening.