Pericarditis as possible without surgery to treat. Treatment of pericarditis of the heart with traditional and folk remedies. Treatment of pericarditis, drugs
Problems with the cardiovascular system are found in many people who have crossed the age threshold of 30 years. One of the most common ailments in the cardiological field of medicine is, which is inflammatory process pericardial sac.
At first, this disease manifests itself poorly, but it is necessary to diagnose it at the initial stages of development. We will talk in more detail about the essence of pericarditis and folk methods of its treatment today. Interesting? Then be sure to check out the article below.
As noted earlier, pericarditis is an inflammation of the pericardium. Often the disease has an infectious, rheumatic or post-infarction etiology.
Often the disease does not occur as an independent pathology of the heart, but as a symptom of a more serious defect. In any case, it is necessary to fight pericarditis and it is important to do it in a timely manner.
Typical signs of the inflammatory process are represented by the following list:
- frequent weakness
- persistent chest pain
- gain pain at the moment of inhalation
- cough
Most often, pericarditis develops due to a person's rheumatism or tuberculosis. Often, the course of the disease is accompanied by lesions of other parts of the heart. In addition, inflammation of the pericardial sac can be triggered by:
- any infectious disease body (from mild sore throat to sepsis)
- chronic allergic reaction
- systemic pathologies connective tissue
- diseases of the heart
- heart damage
- tumor diseases in the cardiovascular system
- metabolic problems
More information about pericarditis can be found in the video:
There are two main forms of pericarditis:
- Acute, which develops in a period not exceeding six months, and can be of various formations (dry, effusion or purulent). The latter is the most dangerous, as it can cause serious complications in the health of the heart.
- Chronic, developing from acute or by itself for 6 or more months. The danger of this form of pericarditis should also not be underestimated, since in the absence or improper organization of therapy, it can cause the most dangerous pathologies of the heart.
As for the specific complications of pericarditis of any form, it is worth highlighting two main ones:
- The possibility of developing a number of cardiac pathologies or intensifying their course (if there were previously heart ailments).
- The risk of serious damage to the tissues of the heart organ, which require surgical intervention and can instantly end the life of the patient.
Fortunately, minimizing the risk of pericardial complications is not so difficult. The main thing in this matter is timely diagnosis and competent treatment of the disease. Moreover, in the initial stages of the pericardium, it is quite acceptable to be treated with traditional medicine, of course, with the approval of such a procedure by the attending cardiologist.
Folk methods of dealing with the disease
Suppose pericarditis is diagnosed, its initial stage of development is confirmed and the doctor allowed to be treated folk recipes. What medicines should be focused on?
As practice shows, the most effective folk methods disease control are as follows:
- A decoction based on coltsfoot. For its preparation, you will need coltsfoot, linden flowers, willow bark, raspberries and anise fruits in the amount of 10-15 grams. All plants are mixed together and brewed hot water(ratio: 1 scoop of the collection to two full glasses of water). The broth is infused for a couple of hours, filtered with gauze and drunk hot 2-3 times a day like regular tea.
- A decoction based on horsetail. To make this medicine, you will need plants such as horsetail, black elder flower and marshmallow root. The method of preparation and administration is completely similar to that described above.
- A decoction based on anise fruits. It is prepared from the fruits of anise, yarrow, lemon balm and valerian root. One tablespoon of herbs collected in equal proportions is poured into glasses of boiling water, after which it is infused for about 1 hour. The resulting broth is required to drink in three doses within one day.
- Herbal infusion. It is very easy to prepare such a remedy. It is enough to mix medicinal chamomile, flowers, motherwort and cudweed in a ratio of 1:3:3:3. After that, the resulting mixture must be poured with two full glasses of boiling water and insisted in a dark place for one day. Then it remains only to filter the infusion and take it 3-5 times a day for half a glass half an hour after eating.
- Pine drink. To prepare it, you need only 5-7 tablespoons of needles of any coniferous tree. The needles are poured with half a liter of boiling water and boiled over low heat for 15 minutes. The medicine is taken cold in half a glass 10 minutes before each meal.
The above recipes are perfectly acceptable to use in combination. The course of therapy is 14-30 days. If after their expiration there was no effect, then from traditional medicine in the treatment of pericarditis, it is worth abandoning and switching to more serious methods of treatment.
Nutrition for pericarditis
Special attention deserves the issue of nutrition in the development of pericarditis. In fact, it is difficult to say something specific here, because the principles of meals are determined depending on the individual characteristics of each specific case.
However, we can definitely say that in the treatment of such diseases it will be useful:
- Organize fractional nutrition 4-7 meals daily.
- Refuse junk food like all kinds of fast food.
- Limit yourself in the consumption of smoked, fatty, fried and salty foods.
- Add heart-healing foods to your diet. For example, some spices and pomegranate juice have similar properties.
- It is also advisable to eat fruits, vegetables, lean meats and similar foods that improve the tone of the body.
More precisely, the principles of nutrition are determined with the cardiologist treating the patient. The fact is that the essence of pericarditis of different formations requires individual approach to each patient, so it would be wrong to talk about a particular diet for the treatment of an ailment. However, it is desirable to adhere to the above provisions, because they are mandatory for the organization in the process of therapy of any cardiac pathology.
Disease prevention
Pericarditis, despite the simplicity of its therapy, is best avoided. And what is needed for this? Naturally, to carry out some prevention.
Most Effective preventive measures regarding pericarditis look like this:
- Complete cessation of smoking.
- Restriction on alcohol consumption.
- General strengthening of immunity.
- Taking funds and products that strengthen human heart health. In addition to the previously noted seasonings and pomegranate juice, it is also worth highlighting a general tonic, consisting of walnut and honey, which are mixed in equal proportions and eaten daily in 2-3 tablespoons.
- Always high-quality and complete treatment of infectious ailments of the body.
- Due attention to the health of the heart, that is, its systematic checks and therapy of all identified problems.
- Light sports.
- Maximum abstraction from stress, depression and nervous shocks.
Of course, the presented methods will not be able to reduce the risk of developing pericarditis to zero, however, it is completely safe for a person from this disease.
If the pathology overtook you, then it is desirable to treat it at an early stage and together with a professional doctor.
On this, perhaps, on today's topic, the most important information has come to an end. We hope that the presented material was useful for you and gave answers to your questions. Health to you!
Pericarditis- inflammation of the visceral and parietal sheets of the pericardium, which can manifest itself as fibrotic changes or accumulation of fluid in the pericardial cavity, which disrupts the physiological function of the heart muscle.
The pericardium is necessary to maintain the correct orientation of the heart in the mediastinum and to protect the myocardium from overgrowth during volume overloads. It consists of an external fibrous part and an internal serous part, which can be divided into a serous sac directly of the pericardium and an epicardium that is tightly adjacent to the heart muscle. Between them is a cavity containing approximately 20-30 ml of fluid that serves to moisten the surface of the pericardium and reduce friction during heart contractions.
Many viral and bacterial infections, coronary heart disease (CHD), pneumonia, systemic connective tissue diseases, tumor or autoimmune processes, allergic reactions can provoke pericarditis.
In a healthy person, the amount of pericardial fluid is constant; in composition, it is a plasma ultrafiltrate. With the development of the pathological process, there is an increase in the exudation of fluid and protein components of the blood into the pericardial cavity, which initially leads to an increase in pressure and compression of the heart from the outside, and then, due to fibrin deposits, peculiar adhesions are formed. All of the above processes significantly reduce the efficiency of heart contractions, thereby forming a predisposition to the development of heart failure.
Symptoms of pericarditis
Pathology rarely occurs as an independent disease, most often occurs against the background of other nosological units, as a complication. Accordingly, the absence of a specific clinic is characteristic; in the most severe forms, a clinical picture of heart failure is formed. Most often, patients complain:
- for chest pain,
- shortness of breath
- palpitations,
- irregular or fast heartbeat
- pericardial rub,
- dry cough,
- general malaise,
- fever.
As a rule, symptoms can be expressed in varying degrees depending on the form of the disease: acute, which lasts less than six weeks, and chronic, lasting more than two months..
Diagnosis of pericarditis
To diagnose the disease, a comprehensive examination is used, consisting of an external examination of the patient, electrocardiography (ECG), echocardiography (EchoCG), blood tests, chest x-rays.
External examination reveals swelling of the jugular veins, cyanosis, edema lower extremities. Auscultation shows the presence of one-, two-, or three-phase pericardial rub. Enough informative for diagnosis is the ECG, which allows you to determine the rise of the ST segment in the anterior and posterior leads. The service provides a unique opportunity for early detection of pathological changes in the heart muscle and pericardial sac. Using the cardiovisor, it is possible to identify minimal deviations from the norm in the structure and functioning of the myocardium, which makes it possible to increase the effectiveness of subsequent treatment. Echocardiography shows the presence of effusion, as well as comorbidities of cardio-vascular system. A blood test detects markers of the inflammatory process (ESR, level C-reactive protein and lactate dehydrogenase, the number of leukocytes) and markers of myocardial damage (determination of the level of troponin I and the MB fraction of creatine phosphokinase). During x-ray examination, the image of the heart varies from normal to reminiscent of a "water bottle".
Treatment of pericarditis
Methods of treatment directly depend on the severity of the course of the disease: in the acute form, hospitalization is indicated in order to exclude tamponade, with a milder course, it is possible to be on an outpatient basis.
For the therapeutic effect, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are used. Ibuprofen is more commonly used due to rare side effects, beneficial effects on coronary blood flow, and a wide range of therapeutic doses. If the disease occurs against the background of the development of coronary artery disease, it is more appropriate to use aspirin or diclofenac. Third-line drugs in the treatment of pericarditis include indomethacin, due to the high incidence of complications.
Together with NSAIDs, it is necessary to provide a course of taking drugs that protect the mucosa of the gastrointestinal tract, reducing the risk of peptic ulcer stomach.
After two weeks, you can evaluate the correctness of the chosen treatment regimen. In the case of a correctly selected medication, therapy is continued until the symptoms of the disease completely disappear and an additional one week, reducing the dose of the last 2-3 days of admission until completely canceled. If the selected NSAID turned out to be ineffective, it must be replaced with an NSAID of another group.
Perhaps also the use of colchicine in addition to NSAIDs or alone, since this medicine are often well tolerated and have fewer side effects than other drugs. To avoid relapses or constriction after recovery, an obligatory step is to monitor the patient and control the physiological function of the myocardium, which can be carried out at home using a cardiovisor and service, with a personal computer.
Acute pericarditis
Acute pericarditis occurs as a result of previous infections (especially viral ones), acute myocardial infarction, chronic renal failure, rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, and an allergic reaction.
The clinical symptoms and etiological factors of this disease are extremely variable, so it is often mistaken for other syndromes, which greatly complicates the diagnosis. The initial stages of diagnosis include laboratory tests, chest X-ray and Doppler echocardiography. It is important to prevent cardiac tamponade - compression of the myocardium by blood or exudate, which gradually accumulates in the pericardial cavity. For this, pericardiocentesis is often used, the resulting fluid is examined in the same way as the pleural fluid. In cases of ineffectiveness of the above methods and recurrence of cardiac tamponade, drainage of the pericardial cavity and biopsy are possible.
Treatment is with antibiotics, NSAIDs, for the prevention of systemic side effects shows intrapericardial administration of glucocorticosteroids. To eliminate moderate cardiac tamponade, it is permissible to use diuretics with simultaneous therapy of the underlying disease. In the case of atrial fibrillation, antiarrhythmic drugs are often prescribed.
Constrictive pericarditis
Pericarditis constrictive (compressive)- chronic adhesive, in which thickening of the pericardium develops (often with its calcification) and powerful cicatricial adhesions, leading to disruption of the heart. The most severe form of the disease that develops as a result of infection, closed and open injuries of the heart and pericardium, myocardial infarction, blood diseases, uremia, scurvy, or most often as a result of rheumatic tuberculous and purulent inflammation of the pericardium.
Characterized by thickening up to 2-3 cm of pericardial sheets, their fusion with the heart of coarse scar tissue. Later, deep damage to the heart muscle develops in combination with myocardiofibrosis, deterioration of the hepatic and portal circulation. Muscle fibers become significantly thinner, their atrophy and fatty degeneration are observed due to a decrease in workload on the stomachs.
Diagnosis is often difficult because signs are similar to congestive heart failure, including edema, ascites, hepatic congestion, splenomegaly, and decreased exercise tolerance.
When examining a patient, cyanosis and swelling of the face, ears, hands are determined. The main symptom of compressive pericarditis is increased venous pressure, with the lower limits of the arterial norm, the apex beat is usually not detected. Constant tachycardia is observed, while maintaining the sinus rhythm, a paradoxical pulse is easily established, an additional tone appears in the protodiastolic phase. characteristic ECG changes- this is an extended P wave (more than 0.1 s), high and clearly contrasts with the low-voltage QRS complex. On x-ray examination, a constant feature is the absence of a waist of the heart and differentiation of the arcs, since the contours of the heart muscle are straightened. With one-dimensional EchoCG, an increase in the thickness and intensity of echo signals from the sheets of the pericardium with a small gap between them is indicated, a reliable sign is the diastolic movement of the interventricular septum from the sensor.
Constrictive pericarditis It is futile to treat with conservative methods, it is imperative to resort to surgery. In preparation for the operation, the patient is prescribed diuretics, they try to reduce venous pressure and reduce ascites. The use of cardiac glycosides is unacceptable, since tachycardia is a compensatory factor that increases the cardiac output, respectively, glycosides, reducing the heart rate, can lead to negative consequences.
Dry pericarditis
Dry or fibrous pericarditis a disease in which, due to a change in the permeability of the vascular wall, fibrinogen leaks into the pericardial cavity, precipitates and is deposited in the form of fibrin, forming an inflammatory infiltrate.
There are three main clinical symptoms - sudden chest pain, pericardial friction rub and significant ECG changes. Pain occurs unexpectedly, localized in the center of the sternum with irradiation to the dorsal region, is permanent, has a different intensity, increases with coughing, sneezing, swallowing, breathing, lasts for several hours, may temporarily subside with the use of analgesics. The murmur is intermittent, gradually spreads and intensifies, is heard in systole and diastole, and is better expressed in the zone of absolute dullness of the heart.
With timely access to qualified help, a correctly established diagnosis, and adequate treatment, the prognosis for most patients is favorable. However, relapses associated with autoimmune mechanisms and aggravation of the disease with the development of exudative pericarditis are possible.
Effusive pericarditis
Effusive pericarditis occurs as a result of infectious, allergic inflammation, usually complicates the course of rheumatism, tuberculosis, staphylococcal and streptococcal infections and is characterized by the accumulation of exudate in the pericardial cavity or other biological fluid (transudate, pus, blood). This eventually leads to a gradual stretching of its outer leaf. As a result of acute effusion pericarditis - complete or partial organization of effusion with the formation of pericardial adhesions. With an increase in intra-pericardial pressure, compression of the heart increases, and hemodynamic disturbances appear.
The clinic depends on the severity of the course of the infectious process, the amount of fluid accumulated in the pericardial cavity and the rate of increase in its volume. Due to the difficulty of expanding the myocardium during diastole due to tamponade, patients are characterized by attacks of weakness and weakening of the pulse, cyanosis spreads, which can lead to loss of consciousness.
For the diagnosis of exudative effusion pericarditis, percussion and auscultation of the chest will be important steps. An increase in the size of the shadow of the heart is detected by fluoroscopy and radiography with the accumulation of 200-300 ml of fluid in the pericardial cavity, while the shadow is located in the middle, the contours are smoothed, and the borders are enlarged on both sides. EchoCG makes it possible to detect effusion in the pericardial cavity already in small quantities (50-100 ml). There are also hyperkinesia of the entire cardiac circuit and interventricular septum, as well as disruption of the valvular apparatus. The most important sign of myocardial tamponade is a decrease in left ventricular diastolic volume during inspiration.
Primary treatment for severe clinical picture exudative pericarditis - evacuation of fluid from the pericardial cavity by its puncture. Indications for puncture will be the presence of symptoms of tamponade, the assumption of a purulent nature of the process, the absence of a tendency to resorption of exudate for a certain time.
Pericarditis in children
In infants, acute exudative pericarditis often develops or complicates the course of a generalized staphylococcal infection. Often the disease occurs with meningococcemia and streptococcal diseases (tonsillogenic sepsis, tonsillitis). In older children, pericarditis is observed with viral infections, rheumatism, rheumatoid arthritis and other diffuse connective tissue diseases, representing a part of polyserositis. Specific and rare forms of pathology are possible: toxic, in severe forms of nephritis with uremia; fungal, bacterial, autoreactive; may be a manifestation of blood diseases, beriberi C, dysfunction thyroid gland, tumors of the heart and pericardium, hereditary diseases and a consequence of drug or hormonal therapy.
Symptoms and clinic correspond to those described above, may be complicated by the presence of an infectious or viral process in the body against a background of weakened immunity.
Laboratory diagnostics and radiology are usually uninformative and do not allow an accurate diagnosis. An early sign, determined on the ECG, is the shift of the ST interval arcuately upward in standard and chest leads with a high pointed, positive T wave. Accordingly, a cardiovisor can become a good helper for parents, which allows you to recognize the very first signs of cardiovascular pathology in children without leaving home and monitor the effectiveness of the proposed treatment. Moreover, the use of the device is allowed for children over five years old. For infants, EchoCG indicators are especially informative, allowing to determine even a slight effusion in the pericardial cavity, its quantity can be judged by the width of the echo-negative zone.
In the treatment of children, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory drugs are used, which are allowed according to the age criterion. The duration of the course depends on the form of the course and the severity of clinical syndromes. With the correct diagnosis, timely treatment and the absence of complications, in most cases there is a complete recovery.
Rostislav Zhadeiko, especially for the project .
Article Sections=-
What is pericarditis?
Pericarditis is an inflammatory disease of the serosa of the heart. Most of all, it is a complication of all kinds of diseases, for example, rheumatism, pleurisy, tuberculosis, vitamin deficiency lupus, influenza, measles. This disease is rarely formed on its own. With this disease, excess fluid accumulates in the serous membrane, which forms fibrous strictures and makes it difficult for the heart to work.
Pericarditis can be chronic and acute, as well as effusion and dry.
Causes of pericarditis
Most often, the causes of pericarditis are a wide range of viral infections, although the etiology of pericarditis has been little studied. An unlikely manifestation of this disease can be caused by diseases such as a heart attack, exposure to harmful infections, chest injuries or radiation from cancer. Inflammation of this disease can also occur in diseases such as kidney failure, tuberculosis, autoimmune diseases, hypothyroidism, uremia, hemorrhagic diathesis, and it is also known that when taking certain medications, it can cause this disease.
Symptoms of pericarditis
Symptoms of pericarditis vary depending on its type. With dry pericarditis, clinical symptoms such as heart pain spreading to the back or epigastric region are distinguished. The "crunch of snow" is typical of this type of disease when listening to the heart. When the pericardium rubs, this noise is created: fibrin (high molecular weight protein), which is deposited in the serous membrane of the heart on its inner surfaces.
Effusive pericarditis has several subspecies: purulent, hemorrhagic and serous. An effusion is a fluid that is released due to an inflammatory process from small blood vessels. With effusion, pressure in the pericardium increases, which complicates the work of the heart. The effusion compresses surrounding tissues and organs all the time. In the case of pericarditis, the patient's vena cava is compressed and this leads to the fact that the blood in the veins and liver stagnates, in turn provoking the occurrence of ascites. With effusion pericarditis, shortness of breath and pain in the right hypochondrium are symptoms, as well as an enlarged liver; in those who suffer, the veins in the neck swell and the face becomes puffy, in people of a young age, a bulge may appear in the region of the heart, and the pulse is likely to quicken and the heart sounds are frail. For acute pericarditis, a characteristic clinical manifestation is chest pain, which is greatly intensified with very deep breathing, sudden movements and coughing. Patients experience shortness of breath, fever; tests often indicate leukocytosis, elevated ESR. Chronic pericarditis and its symptoms most often begin in a mild manner. The liver increases and thickens in size, cyanosis, ascites, heart failure and swelling of the legs, and this begins with the pericardium, when the sheets of the pericardium grow together.
Pericarditis in children
Most often, after 6 years, children begin to get sick with this disease. And the cause of its occurrence may be typhus, scarlet fever, tuberculosis, rheumatism or septic foci. Pericarditis begins acutely: the general condition of the child deteriorates sharply, fever begins. The child is anxious, there is pain in the chest, he is pale and shortness of breath appears, and in the region of the heart a feeling of constriction is all symptoms of the disease, but in general there are no fundamental differences in children from adults with signs of pericarditis. Usually, pericarditis does not appear to be an unsafe disease and resolves on its own. It is much more significant to determine the cause of its occurrence, preventing the transition of the disease to a deeper form.
Treatment of pericarditis
Pericarditis within a few weeks without problems and complications repeatedly passes without special treatment. The attending physician will be able to prescribe painkillers to the patient, which will reduce discomfort and heart pain. In more difficult forms of pericarditis, severe bed rest is recommended. Incorrect posture when lying down can increase the pain, so the patient must always be in a very comfortable position for himself. Depending on the disease that caused the pericarditis, it is prescribed drug treatment. Antibiotics are treated, and various remedies for rheumatism (gamma globulin, glucocorticoids, anti-inflammatory drugs) are treated. To remove fluid, pericarditis is pierced if the disease leads to a large accumulation of exudate and it disrupts blood circulation. With compressive pericarditis forced to use surgery in which part of the pericardium is excised (pericardectomy). The prognosis of pericarditis may depend on such factors as the course and severity of the underlying disease and the amount of fluid accumulated in the pericardium. Purulent pericarditis seems to be the most risky for life: it requires immediate hospitalization and treatment. To diagnose pericarditis, listening, chest x-ray, echocardiogram and electrocardiogram are used.
VIDEO
Treatment of pericarditis with needles and birch buds
From young and coniferous trees (juniper, spruce, pine or fir), needles can be used as an effective folk way to treat pericarditis. They make a healing decoction: needles (five tablespoons) which are steamed in boiling water (500 ml), then put on a very slow fire and boil for 10 minutes. Next, the container with the broth must be insisted and wrapped for at least 8 hours. The strained remedy is consumed in half a glass up to 5 times a day.
Birch catkin tincture is an excellent recipe. Choosing large earrings, pour them better in liter jar about 2/3 of the volume and then fill the jar with vodka, and after that you need to close the jar with a nylon lid and leave for 2 weeks. Before you start taking the tincture, there is no need to filter it, but take the tincture 20 drops daily in three doses and take it best before meals - half an hour. She will be able to help the patient with weakness, shortness of breath and pain in the heart.
Treatment of pericarditis with medicinal preparations and mixtures
From folk way There are few treatments for pericarditis with the help of herbal preparations, and below the most popular ones will be listed for you.
Method 1 We take the herbs of motherwort and cudweed marshwort, as well as hawthorn flowers (3 parts of each ingredient), which are combined with chamomile flowers (1 part). After mixing these ingredients well, take a tablespoon and pour into a glass of boiling water. After infusing for 8 hours, this medicine is filtered through cotton wool and a layer of gauze, and then they drink 3 times a day after meals an hour later, 100 ml each.
Method 2 We take 2 parts of anise fruits, which we mix with the rhizome of medicinal valerian and anise roots, as well as with lemon balm leaves and yarrow herb (1 part of each ingredient). Following this, the composition (1 tablespoon) is added to a glass of boiling water and left for half an hour. This tincture must be filtered and drunk 2-3 times before taking it.
Method 3 The lemon is freed from the stones and ground together with the peel in a meat grinder. Then it is mixed with apricot pits, which are rubbed to a powder before that. In the resulting composition, porridge is added, which is obtained from honey and pelargonium (500 ml), and this medicine is used before each meal, one tablespoon.
Treatment of pericarditis with balms
Balms, the recipes of which you will read below, are excellent folk remedies treatment of pericarditis and other heart diseases (myocarditis and endocarditis).
Balm first. To prepare this balm, you need to mix tinctures from such leaves as a three-leaf watch, birch in a dark glass bottle, and also add hawthorn fruits and spring adonis grass (each 200 ml.). Then to this you need to add tincture of the root of plowed harrow, asparagus, valerian root, motherwort, black poplar buds and creeping couch grass root (each 100 ml) and add 400 ml of tincture from the rhizome of the meadowsweet, and take this tincture no later than 20 minutes before taking a tablespoon of food three times a day.
Balm second. To prepare this tincture, you need a dark container in which you need to combine 100 ml of tincture from aspen buds, knotweed, hop cones, medicinal dandelion, herbs burda, corn columns, lemon balm, as well as 200 ml each peppermint, maid flowers and thyme, and we use this balm in the same way as the first one.
Treatment of pericarditis with cornflower and honey
A tincture of cornflower flower is used to treat rheumatic pericarditis. To prepare this tincture, you need to take a tablespoon of the ingredients and pour it with 100 milliliters of 70-degree alcohol and let it brew for at least 12 days, and it is better to take 30 minutes before meals in 3 doses in one day. Depending on the general condition the patient to continue the course of treatment.
Treatment with rose hips and honey treats dry pericarditis, which occurs with complications of patients after influenza. First of all, we prepare the rosehip tincture, for this we put the crushed rosehips in a thermos and pour half a liter of boiling water over it, leave it to infuse for 8–10 hours, and then combine it with honey (1 tablespoon) and filter. This delicious and healthy tea drink three times a day for half a glass.
You need to remember what proper nutrition very good for the heart. Greens, nuts, fish, dried fruits, sea buckthorn, orange and pumpkin juices, raspberries, seaweed and dairy products should always be in your diet, and taking bee pollen, royal jelly and fish oil is not harmful.
Constrictive pericarditis
Constrictive (compressive) pericarditis rarely develops on its own and most of all seems to be a complication of exudative pericarditis. Characteristic of this disease is the close fusion between both layers of the pericardium. The pericardium becomes thicker and denser, due to which its elasticity and mobility are lost when the heart muscle contracts. After some time, accumulation of calcium salts develops in the compacted pericardium, which leads to the fusion of the heart and the outer shell, which in turn greatly complicates the work of the heart muscle. When there is too much calcium salts, the pericardium hardens, the heart becomes "armored".
Circulatory disturbance occurs with constrictive pericarditis: blood overflows large veins, as well as the chambers of the heart are terribly filled with it (blood stagnates in the great circle of blood circulation). Constrictive pericarditis can occur due to diseases such as tuberculosis, rheumatism, other infections, blood diseases, chest injuries and kidney failure. It is able to act as the final form of exudative pericarditis. In most cases, from the onset of the disease to the manifestation of prominent clinical symptoms and the operation, it takes about a month to several years. Constrictive pericarditis occurs in 3 stages: initial, dystrophic and severe. At the initial stage, shortness of breath and weakness are characteristic. The pronounced stage has such manifestations as veins in the neck swell, ascites and puffiness of the face. At the stage of dystrophy, hypoproteinemia occurs (low content of total protein in the blood), fluid accumulates in the tissues, edema is shown, and the immune system is weakened.
Symptoms of constrictive pericarditis
When this disease occurs on its own, at first it most often does not have pronounced clinical manifestations. People have complaints only at a time when there is a stagnation of blood in the great circle of blood circulation.
Symptoms of constrictive pericarditis are dilation of the veins in the neck, a feeling of heaviness, swelling of the lower extremities, compression in the hypochondrium, pain in the heart, shortness of breath, fatigue, decreased appetite, and weight loss. There is an increase in the volume of the abdomen in patients, as well as a decrease in blood pressure and an increased pulse, there is also an increase in venous pressure and the development of ascites (accumulation of fluid in the abdominal cavity).
It is realistic to detect constrictive with the help of fluoroscopy only in the later stages, in this regard, therefore, for a correct early diagnosis, an echocardiogram is most often performed.
Treatment of constrictive pericarditis
The mechanical nature of the damage is the heart with constrictive pericarditis, in connection with this, medications are not used for treatment. The only way to avoid squeezing the heart is surgery. Most of the pericardium is cut off (pericardectomy). Before surgery, the patient is put on a low-salt diet and diuretics are used. The prognosis for this operation is not bad, we can say that all the time the patients recover completely, and the mortality rate in% is low approximately (5-15%), and the recovery of patients most often depends on the state of the liver and kidneys, as well as the degree of atrophied myocardium.
The pericardium is a thin two-layer membrane with a small amount of fluid between the sheets that covers the heart and protects it from possible injuries and infections. In addition, the pericardium prevents the chambers of the heart from expanding excessively during diastole, which also allows the heart to work as efficiently as possible. The inflammatory process localized in the pericardium is called pericarditis. Most cases of pericarditis are recorded in men in.
Pericarditis is always an acute disease, which, however, can last up to several months. If the pericardium were available for direct examination, then it would be possible to find that it is hyperemic and swollen (as, for example, the skin around the wound looks like). In some cases, during the inflammatory process, secreted a large number of inflammatory fluid that accumulates between the sheets of the pericardium and can even limit the mobility of the heart.
Symptoms of pericarditis
The main symptom of pericarditis is acute pain in the heart, which increases with coughing and movement, and decreases in the position of the patient with an inclination forward.The main "chest" symptoms include:
- Sharp, stabbing pain in the chest. Caused by the friction of the heart against the pericardium.
- The pain may increase during coughing, swallowing, deep breathing, trying to lie down.
- The pain is lessened when the person is seated forward.
- In some cases, the patient holds the chest with his hand or tries to press something against it (for example, a pillow).
Other symptoms include:
- Pain in chest radiating to back, neck, left arm.
- , aggravated in the supine position.
- Dry cough.
- Anxiety, fatigue.
Some people with pericarditis may appear. This is usually a symptom of constrictive pericarditis, a very severe form of the disease.
With constrictive pericarditis, the pericardial tissue thickens, thickens and prevents the heart from working normally, limiting its range of motion. In this case, the heart cannot cope with the volume of blood entering it. Because of this, swelling occurs. If such a patient does not receive adequate treatment, then it may develop.
Pericarditis or any suspicion of it is a reason to call immediately ambulance or get to the hospital on their own (with the help of relatives and friends), because this condition is very dangerous and requires treatment.
Autoimmune diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus, systemic and some others can also cause pericarditis.
Rare reasons include:
- Post-traumatic pericarditis (for example, with a penetrating wound of the chest).
- Uremic pericarditis on the background.
- Pericarditis in tumors.
- Pericarditis in familial Mediterranean fever.
- Pericarditis against the background of taking immunosuppressants.
The risk of pericarditis also increases after:
- and heart surgery (Dressler's syndrome).
- radiation therapy.
- Percutaneous cardiac examinations and treatments such as radiofrequency ablation and cardiac catheterization.
In these cases, it is believed that the body begins to mistakenly attack the cells of the pericardium, which causes inflammation. The difficulty of diagnosis in such patients lies in the fact that after such interventions (catheterization, radiofrequency ablation) it can take several weeks before pericarditis develops.
For many people, the cause of the disease remains unclear. Such pericarditis is called idiopathic.
Pericarditis often becomes chronic, that is, after a period of exacerbations, a slight lull occurs, and then, after exposure to provoking factors, the disease returns.
When should you see a doctor?
At the onset of the first symptoms of pericarditis, seek immediate medical attention. medical care. If pericarditis is not treated, then this can lead to sad consequences up to lethal outcome. Since during inflammation fluid accumulates between the sheets of the pericardium, the volume of which can exceed 1000 ml in advanced cases, there is a high probability of developing such a clinical manifestation as cardiac tamponade. This is a condition when the heart is unable to effectively contract and relax, against which it arises.
Symptoms of impending cardiac tamponade:
- Difficulty breathing
- Shallow and rapid breathing
- Pallor
- Sharp weakness
- Loss of consciousness
- Heart rhythm disorders
If cardiac tamponade is suspected, emergency medical attention is required.
Signs of constrictive pericarditis:
- Dyspnea.
- Edema of the lower extremities.
- Heart rhythm disorders.
- An increase in the abdomen (due to the accumulation of fluid in it against the background of heart failure).
If you suspect constrictive pericarditis, you should seek help from the cardiology or internal medicine department of the nearest hospital.
Diagnosis of pericarditis
During auscultation for pericarditis, the doctor will hear a characteristic noise - the rub of the pericardium.
First of all, the doctor will be interested in the following two symptoms:
- Sharp pain radiating to back, neck and left arm.
- Difficulties in breathing.
The combination of these features indicates that the patient has pericarditis rather than acute coronary syndrome.
It is also necessary to tell the doctor in detail what you have been ill with recently, as this will make it easier to identify the cause of the disease (viral, bacterial or autoimmune pericarditis). You can't hide the fact that you've had surgery before (especially on the heart) or have chronic (kidney failure) or autoimmune diseases (such as systemic lupus erythematosus).
During a physical examination, the doctor will listen to heart sounds with a stethoscope. One of the classic auscultatory signs of pericarditis is a pericardial rub. This sound resembles the friction of sheets of paper and occurs when the inflamed sheets of the pericardium rub against each other. After liquid accumulates between the sheets, this noise will disappear. If the disease is already running, then the doctor can listen to moist rales in the lungs, which will indicate decompensation of the process and an increase in heart failure.
Diagnostic examination includes:
- X-ray examination of the chest: the picture clearly visualizes an increase in the shadow of the heart and congestion in the lungs.
- Electrocardiogram: ECG may show characteristics cardiac dysfunction and pericardial damage. With constrictive pericarditis, the film also shows typical changes.
- Echocardiography: EchoCG allows not only to "see" the inflammatory process, but also to measure the amount of fluid in the pericardial cavity. This is especially important for determining the need for surgical intervention - pericardial puncture with subsequent removal of excess fluid.
- Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging: these studies help visualize the presence of fluid in the pericardial cavity, but also determine the presence of inflammation using the special substance gadolin. CT and MRI can assess the degree of thickening of the pericardium and the risk of cardiac tamponade.
- Cardiac catheterization: this invasive diagnostic method makes it possible to determine the efficiency of the heart, the pressure in the atria and ventricles.
- Laboratory tests: Special blood tests can accurately differentiate a heart attack from pericarditis, as well as determine the nature of the disease (viruses or bacteria). Determination of the level of C-reactive protein will help confirm inflammation and determine its activity.
Other tests will also be done to rule out autoimmune diseases.
How is pericarditis treated?
Before starting treatment, it is necessary to establish the cause of pericarditis, the treatment regimen will depend on this.
In all cases, the patient will be prescribed (ibuprofen, diclofenac, etc.) in high doses in combination with proton pump blockers (omeprazole) to protect the gastric mucosa to reduce pain and as an anti-inflammatory treatment. This treatment will help relieve pain and reduce swelling of the pericardial tissue.
If pericarditis has become chronic and the exacerbation lasts a very long time (2 weeks or more), then the patient is prescribed colchicine. This drug has been used successfully as an anti-inflammatory agent for a very long time. Sometimes colchicine is combined with ibuprofen, this helps to achieve the best result in treatment.
If pericarditis infectious, antibiotics are prescribed in determining the bacterial nature of the pathogen.
If pericarditis caused by fungi then an appropriate antifungal agent is prescribed.
Other drugs prescribed for pericarditis
- Glucocorticosteroids (for example, Prednisone). These substances have a strong anti-inflammatory effect, in addition, without them it will not be possible to cure pericarditis caused by an autoimmune process.
- Diuretics. These drugs remove excess water from the body, reduce swelling and stress on the heart, and alleviate the patient's condition.
- Narcotic analgesics. In the case of particularly severe pain that is not relieved by non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, the patient may be prescribed narcotic analgesics. Unfortunately, the strong effect of pain relief is combined with a high risk of drug addiction.
If fluid in the pericardium continues to accumulate
- Pericardiocentesis may be performed. The surgeon, after treating the skin in the sternum and performing local anesthesia (lidocaine), will insert a needle into the pericardial cavity and remove excess fluid. Sometimes this procedure is carried out under the control of echocardiography.
- Sometimes patients create a so-called pericardial window. The surgeon makes a small incision in the pericardium and creates a shunt with the abdominal cavity, which allows the accumulated fluid to drain into the abdomen.
- In particular severe cases with constrictive pericarditis, surgical treatment is performed. During the operation, the surgeon removes part of the pericardium (pericardiotomy), which allows the heart to work normally.
Possible Complications of Pericarditis
Constrictive pericarditis
This is a very severe form of pericarditis, in which the sheets of the pericardium against the background of inflammation are calcified and scarred. All this leads to the fact that the heart is compressed and can no longer perform its functions in full. Patients with constrictive pericarditis develop heart failure, which is manifested by swelling of the extremities, stagnation of fluid in the lungs, accumulation of fluid in the abdominal cavity (ascites), severe shortness of breath, and heart rhythm disturbance.
Constrictive pericarditis is treated both therapeutically and surgically. If diuretics and drugs to maintain a normal heart rhythm are ineffective, then pericardiotomy is performed.
Cardiac tamponade
If the inflammatory fluid accumulates between the sheets of the pericardium very quickly and there is a lot of it, then this can lead to such a clinical condition as cardiac tamponade. In this case, the heart is compressed so much that it cannot contract. Cardiac tamponade is a life-threatening condition requiring emergency medical attention.
Life after pericarditis
In most people, pericarditis clears up in a maximum of 3 months and does not cause any complications. Therefore, after the rehabilitation period, a person can return to work and usual activities.
In rare cases, pericarditis may recur. Then again you need to seek medical help. You will need to re-examine and undergo treatment.
Prevention of pericarditis
Severe SARS carried on the legs can lead to viral pericarditis.
Since in most cases pericarditis develops after viral infection, then you need to carefully monitor your health and treat it in a timely manner. You should not endure another cold on your feet, it can be very costly in the future.
Pericarditis is an inflammatory process in the pericardium, which is the serous membrane of the heart. Pathology is characterized by the accumulation of fluid in the pericardial cavity or the formation of fibrous strictures, which negatively affects the functional activity of the heart muscle.
Causes and types of pericarditis
Pericarditis can have a wide variety of etiologies. It usually develops as a complication of another pathology.
Much less often, the pathology develops on its own.
According to the accepted classification, it is customary to distinguish the following types of pericarditis:
- infectious;
- traumatic;
- autoimmune;
- idiopathic.
Congenital forms are extremely rare.
According to the nature of the course in clinical practice, acute, subacute and chronic pericarditis is distinguished. The acute form is characterized by rapid development and. The subacute form develops several weeks or even months after exposure to the causative factor. Chronic pericarditis develops even more slowly.
Most often, cardiologists have to deal with an idiopathic type of pericarditis.
Pericarditis can cause significant thickening and decreased elasticity of the pericardium (constrictive variety). Against the background of pathology, inflammation of the epicardial heart muscle (myopericarditis) is possible.
Symptoms of pericarditis
The leading symptoms of pericarditis include pain or a feeling of heaviness in the chest. They tend to intensify with a deep breath.
In acute development, the first symptoms may be shortness of breath, or cardiac tamponade, accompanied by a sharp decrease in blood pressure or
Dull pain may radiate to the shoulders or neck. Its intensity varies from slight to very acute. The pain syndrome increases with coughing and swallowing, but decreases slightly when the body is tilted forward. Rapid breathing, fever, general weakness, and an unproductive cough are sometimes noted.
Symptoms of constrictive pericarditis:
- pronounced
- an increase in the size of the abdomen due to the accumulation of fluid in it (as a result).
One of the leading signs of constrictive pericarditis is more or less pronounced edema of the lower extremities.
With pericarditis due to myocardial infarction, a febrile reaction and are often recorded. Specific symptoms develop in the period from 10 days to 2 months after a heart attack.
Diagnostics
The basis for the diagnosis is the characteristic symptoms, changes in, auscultatory signs (pericardial friction noise), as well as the accumulation of fluid in the pericardial cavity, which is detected during or. To determine the cause of the development of the disease, it is carried out additional examination sick.
note
The most important symptom is a precordial pericardial friction rub - systolic and diastolic or triphasic. In rare cases, it is possible to determine the noise of the pleura, if its area immediately adjacent to the pericardium is inflamed.
In the course of radiography, stagnation in the lungs and an increase in the cardiac shadow are clearly visible in the picture.
In rare cases, surgery is required.
Colchicine (0.5-1 g) is administered orally 1 time per day. It is classified as a first line drug. It helps to reduce the frequency of relapses, and in patients with the first attack, the severity of clinical symptoms in the next three days.
The patient must be prescribed drugs from the group and anti-inflammatory drugs, as well as drugs that normalize metabolism in the myocardium and drugs containing potassium. (acetylsalicylic acid) is prescribed in doses up to 650 mg orally with a time interval of 4-6 hours. give the patient 600-800 mg per os every 6-8 hours. Excessively intense pain may require the use of narcotic analgesics - opioids.
In most cases, a positive effect can be achieved within a week of drug treatment, but only the attending physician can determine the duration of the course. As a rule, therapy is continued until the disappearance of C-reactive protein in the blood, normalization of ESR and resolution of effusion.
With pain and inflammation, corticosteroid hormones, in particular prednisone, are often indicated. It is prescribed orally 1 r / day at 60-80 mg for a week. The dose is gradually reduced, in parallel using colchicine. prescribed if after the use of colchicine or NSAIDs there is no positive effect. Prednisone should also be prescribed for autoimmune or uremic genesis or connective tissue diseases. When using corticosteroids, special care should be taken, since against their background, viral replication increases.
When such a need arises, some drugs (triamcinolone) are injected directly into the pericardium (300 mg / m 2). The procedure does not cause systemic side effects. Indications for its implementation are exacerbations of pericarditis and resistant (resistant to standard treatment) form of the disease.
In acute pericarditis, anticoagulants are usually contraindicated, because they can cause tamponade or bleeding, but their use is justified in early pericarditis, which has become a complication of myocardial infarction.
Against the background of an exacerbation (relapse), if the patient has a pain syndrome, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or colchicine are used. A single dose is 0.5 mg (orally), and the multiplicity is 2 r / day. Course therapy is carried out from 6 to 12 months, gradually reducing the dose. With the ineffectiveness of these funds or with a non-infectious origin of pericarditis, the appointment of glucocorticosteroids is allowed.
Identification of the infectious nature of the disease requires the appointment of antibiotics (intravenously). In the idiopathic form or post-infarction syndrome, they are not needed. The choice of the optimal antibacterial agent is carried out taking into account the sensitivity of pathogenic microflora to it. If pericarditis has developed against the background, parallel use of 2-3 for 7-8 months is indicated.
The pain syndrome is well stopped by NSAIDs and prednisone (20-60 mg daily for 3-4 days). With a positive reaction, drugs are often canceled after 1-2 weeks of course therapy. The dosage is reduced gradually.
To reduce the severity of pericarditis against the background of uremia, frequent sessions of hardware blood purification (hemodialysis) are performed and glucocorticosteroids are administered into the pericardial cavity or systemically (intravenously). Also, intrapericardially administered triamcinolone helps to achieve a good therapeutic effect.
For the treatment of recurrent effusions as a result of the development of a malignant tumor process, sclerosing pharmacological agents can be used.
The use of prednisolone for the treatment of secondary pericarditis significantly accelerates the resorption of effusion, especially if the disease has an allergic origin or develops as a result of systemic (rheumatic) connective tissue diseases.
In the presence of congestive heart failure against the background of a chronic constrictive variety of pathology, a sharp restriction of salt intake and the use of diuretics (diuretics) are indicated. If there is ventricular systolic dysfunction or atrial dysrhythmias, digoxin is given.
note
Often, conservative (medication) treatment can take many months. After surgical interventions on the pericardium, colchicine is prescribed from the 3rd day after the operation, and within 30 days the patient receives a "saturating" dose (2 g per day), after which it is reduced to 1 g.
Surgical treatment of pericarditis, pericardiocentesis
Most patients with acute pericarditis require urgent hospitalization in a specialized department of a hospital, especially if there is no reaction to NSAIDs or if the temperature rises. In the conditions of a medical institution, it is possible to conduct a complete examination to establish the true cause of the pathology and monitoring for the timely diagnosis of such a dangerous complication as cardiac tamponade requiring urgent surgical intervention of pericardiocentesis (pericardial puncture to remove effusion).
Signs of impending cardiac tamponade:
- difficulty and frequent breathing of a superficial nature;
- blanching of the skin;
- severe general weakness;
- arrhythmia;
The indication for pericardiocentesis is the slow resorption of the effusion (over two weeks), as well as the receipt of this biological material to determine the cause of its occurrence. Fluid in the pericardium may be chylous, serous, serous-hemorrhagic, or hemorrhagic. Sometimes fibrin strands are found in the effusion.
Timely removal of fluid from the pericardial cavity can save the patient's life.
Tamponade develops when a large volume of effusion prevents the heart from filling with blood, resulting in a sharp decrease in cardiac output. With the rapid accumulation of blood, even a relatively small volume (within 150 ml) can provoke this life-threatening complication, since the structures of the pericardium are not capable of such rapid stretching. If blood accumulates slowly, then tamponade may not occur even when blood accumulates in a volume of 0.5 liters or more.
Forecast
As a rule, in patients, clinical recovery occurs within 3 months, and the disease does not lead to any complications. After graduation recovery period a person can lead a normal life. Recurrence of pericarditis is quite a rare event; in this case, you must definitely seek qualified medical help.
Prevention of pericarditis
To avoid pericarditis, colds and others should not be carried on the legs.
- Dignities and clothes of Orthodox priests and monasticism
- Healers and fortune tellers - why do people go to them?
- During confession. Preparation for confession. List of sins for confession. How to dress for confession
- Praise of the Most Holy Theotokos Praise of the Mother of God with an Akathist for what they pray