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will call you back within one business day. The pericardium is
the thin, sac-like tissue that surrounds the heart. With
pericarditis, this tissue is inflamed. The condition may be mild
and last only a few days. Or it may be more severe and lead to
serious complications. This sheet tells you more about
pericarditis. It also explains how it is diagnosed and treated.
The pericardium helps protect the heart from infection. It
consists of two thin layers of tissue with a small amount of
fluid between them. When these layers become inflamed, they can
rub against the heart. This causes chest pain. Pericarditis most
often happens after a respiratory infection. It occurs in people
of all ages, but is more common in men aged 20 to 50 years.
Pericarditis can be acute or chronic. The acute type occurs
suddenly and typically lasts days or up to 3 weeks. The chronic
type develops over time and lasts for more than 3 months.
Symptoms can vary between the two types