Pericarditis

Prevention

Because pericarditis can be the result of so many very different illnesses, there are no routine guidelines to prevent the condition. In general, you can help prevent pericarditis caused by heart-damaging infections by practicing good hygiene, especially washing your hands often, and by seeing your doctor for recommended immunizations. To prevent pericarditis caused by heart attack, you can reduce your risk of coronary artery disease by not smoking, eating a low-fat diet, exercising regularly and controlling hypertension and diabetes if you have these problems. To reduce your risk of trauma-related pericarditis, you should wear a seat belt whenever you drive and wear appropriate chest-protecting equipment when you play contact sports.

Even if you follow all of these suggestions, some forms of pericarditis cannot be prevented.

Treatment

The treatment of acute pericarditis depends on the cause. You will be told to rest in bed and to take aspirin or an anti-inflammatory drug, such as indomethacin (Indocin) for pain. If pain continues, the doctor may switch you to a glucocorticoid medication, such as prednisone (sold under several brand names). Patients with tuberculous pericarditis will need anti-tuberculosis medication. Those with a pyogenic bacterial infection will need strong antibiotics. Patients with uremic pericarditis caused by kidney failure will need hemodialysis, a mechanical procedure to clean the blood.

If you have cardiac tamponade, excess fluid around your heart will be withdrawn with a sterile needle in a procedure called pericardiocentesis. When constrictive pericarditis interferes with heart function, the thickened pericardium may be removed surgically in a procedure called a pericardiectomy.