Pericarditis: Treatments
Pericarditis is a condition in which the membrane, or sac, around your heart is inflamed. This sac is called the pericardium.
Treatments for Pericarditis
Most cases of pericarditis are mild; they clear up on their own or with rest and simple treatment. Other times, more intense treatment is needed to prevent complications. Treatment may include medicines and, less often, procedures or surgery.
The goals of treatment include:
Reducing pain and inflammation Treating the underlying cause, if it’s known Checking for complicationsSpecific Types of Treatment
As a first step in your treatment, your doctor may advise you to rest until you feel better and have no fever. He or she may tell you to take over-the-counter, anti-inflammatory medicines to reduce pain and inflammation. Examples of these medicines include aspirin and ibuprofen.
You may need stronger medicine if your pain is severe. If your pain continues to be severe, your doctor may prescribe a medicine called colchicine and, possibly, prednisone (a steroid medicine).
If an infection is causing… Read more about Pericarditis: Treatments