Myocarditis

Myocarditis can affect your heart muscle and your heart's electrical system, reducing your heart's ability to pump and causing rapid or abnormal heart rhythms, also known as arrhythmias.

Symptoms of myocarditis include:

• Pain and tightness in the chest which may spread across the body
• Shortness of breath
• Difficulty breathing
• Flu-like symptoms such as a high temperature, tiredness and fatigue
• Abnormal heart rhythms

Common causes of myocarditis include:

• A viral, bacterial or fungal infection
• A chest infection
• An autoimmune disease (when a person’s own immune system attacks their body)

While these are common causes, sometimes the cause of myocarditis is unknown.

Your doctor will review your medical history and may order the following tests:

• Electrocardiogram (ECG)
• Echocardiogram (ECHO)
• Blood test
• Cardiac MRI

Your doctor may treat your condition with a combination of medication and surgery depending on the condition of your myocarditis.

Medication includes:

• Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors
• Angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs)
• Beta blockers
• Diuretics

In prolonged cases myocarditis might affect your heart muscle and tissue, meaning you could develop heart failure. If the damage is very severe you could be considered for a heart transplant.

The following resources have information about the causes, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment for myocarditis:

• Mayo Clinic: Myocarditis
• British Heart Foundation: Myocarditis