Oftentimes, we find ourselves getting confused between various heart issues that exist. Although most of these issues come with the burden of uncertainty attached to them, myocarditis is certainly not one of them. Commonly referred to as inflammation of the heart, this heart issue occurs when your body is exposed to a virus, bacteria or parasites. To put it briefly, this inflammation reduces the heart’s ability to pump blood efficiently. For a more detailed look at this heart issue, read on below.
Myocarditis symptoms
Keeping in mind the common symptoms that come with every heart issue, myocarditis symptoms are no different. Here’s a list of these for you to detect this issue with a little ease.
- Chest pain or discomfort
- Feeling of light-headedness
- Unexplainable fatigue
- Flu symptoms such as body ache, cold, fever, sore throat and headache
- Breathing difficulty
- Rapid/irregular heart beats or arrhythmias
- Swelling in the hands, lets and/or feet
Types of myocarditis
Now that we have highlighted the symptoms of heart inflammation, it is also important to touch upon the types of myocarditis. They are namely –
Acute
When the onset of myocarditis is recent and rather quickly progressing, it is referred to as acute myocarditis. This particular type can develop suddenly and may also rapidly resolve with the right medication(s), diagnosis and care.
Chronic
When the symptoms of myocarditis reappear even after treating them in the first place, chances are that the person has chronic myocarditis. It usually happens as a result of autoimmune disorders, in which the body’s immune system attacks healthy tissue, causing inflammation. Other inflammatory conditions can include viral infections or bacterial infestations
Viral myocarditis
A rather serious one, viral myocarditis occurs when the white blood cells penetrate the heart and cause inflammation in the heart muscle.Viruses, similar to the likes of COVID-19 particularly trigger this type of heart inflammation. In extreme cases, a person might get hospitalized.
Myocarditis causes
Myocarditis causes range from viral infections to autoimmune disorders. Here’s a detailed list of them to help you have more in-depth knowledge of them –
Viruses & bacteria: Viruses and bacterial infections can cause myocarditis. These include a range of them, starting from common cold to COVID-19. Hepatitis B and C, parvovirus (the one that causes rashes) and herpes simplex are some of them, to name a few. Bacterias that cause diphtheria and lyme disease can also cause it.
Parasites and fungi: People with weakened immune systems are more likely to get inflammation of the heart from parasites or fungal infections. Yeast infections can also cause it.
Certain medications: Some medications and radiations used in chemotherapy can cause your heart muscles to swell. Anti-seizure medications, strong antibiotics and sulfonamide drugs can also cause it.
Underlying inflammatory diseases: Diseases like lupus, Lyme disease, giant cell arteritis and granulomatosis can also aid and facilitate the occurrence of this disease.
Conclusion
To conclude, there are a number of causes that can lead you down a path which is bad for your heart. But regular exercise, a good diet and nutritional help, can prepare you better for these heart issues. Speaking of nutritional help, TrueBasics Heart Omega-3 is one such supplement that helps reduce cholesterol and triglycerides by up to 33%. The main ingredient being Antarctic krill, comes power-packed with 4 heart-strengthening ingredients. With regular usage of 26 weeks, you can see a significant drop in cholesterol and triglyceride levels.
