Myocarditis: symptoms, treatment and prevention

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Definition of myocarditis

What is myocarditis?

Myocarditis is an inflammatory condition that occurs in the heart muscle or myocardium. Inflammation is generally caused by a viral infection that causes the heart muscle to become inflamed and swollen.

Myocarditis can affect the heart's electrical system and heart muscle function, so that the heart's ability to pump blood can be impaired. This has the potential to cause an acceleration or irregular heartbeat.

Although this condition is usually caused by a viral infection, it is not uncommon for myocarditis to be a reaction to certain drugs or other inflammatory diseases in the body. The most common symptoms are chest pain, shortness of breath, and arrhythmias.

Although classified as rare, myocarditis is a type of heart disease that is quite dangerous. The reason is, in conditions that are severe enough, the heart will weaken and the body does not get enough blood flow.

At that time, blood can clot and trigger a heart attack or even a stroke. Not only that, myocarditis can also cause sudden death and heart failure.

How common is myocarditis?

Myocarditis is a rare disease. However, it is estimated that there are millions of adults and children who suffer from this disease. This disease is the third leading cause of death in children and adults.

Inflammatory disease of the myocardium is more common in patients who enter puberty until their early 30s.

You can prevent and treat this disease by controlling the existing risk factors. To find out more information about this disease, you can consult a doctor.

Signs & symptoms of myocarditis

After knowing what myocarditis is, you also need to recognize the various symptoms of one of these heart diseases. Sometimes, myocarditis doesn't show definite signs and symptoms. In fact, in most cases, sufferers do not report any symptoms.

Common symptoms are difficult to distinguish from symptoms of other viral infections. Usually, in serious cases, the symptoms of myocarditis vary widely and depend on the cause of the condition itself. These symptoms include:

• Chest pain or pain.
• Heart beat.
• Hard to breathe.
• Fever or chills.
• Swelling of the hands, feet and ankles.
• Feel tired.
• Irritation of the heart muscle which can lead to heart arrhythmias, heart failure, or even fainting.

There may be signs and symptoms not listed above. If you have concerns about a particular symptom, consult your doctor.

Meanwhile, not much different from the symptoms of myocarditis in adults, the symptoms that children may experience when experiencing this condition are:

• Fever.
• Fainting.
• Has difficulty breathing
• Arrhythmia or abnormal heartbeat.

When to see a doctor?

You should check with your doctor if you have any of the symptoms listed above, especially chest pain and difficulty breathing.

If you have an infection, especially one that is associated with symptoms of myocarditis, tell your doctor right away.

Each sufferer's body shows signs and symptoms that vary. To get the most appropriate treatment and according to your health condition, check any symptoms you are experiencing to the doctor or the nearest health service center.

Causes of myocarditis

Often the exact cause of myocarditis cannot be determined. However, there are several conditions and pathogens that may cause inflammation of the myocardium. According to Harvard Health Publishing, some of the possible causes of myocarditis are:

1. Viruses

Many viruses are associated with the myocardium, including viruses that can cause flu, Covid-19, hepatitis B and C, parvovirus or cause rash, and the herpes simplex virus.

In addition, gastrointestinal infections, Epstein-Barr virus, and rubella can also cause this disease. In some cases, the HIV virus was also found in some sufferers.

2. Bacteria

Apart from viruses, bacteria can also be one of the causes of myocarditis. Although it is less common, myocarditis can be caused by complications of endocarditis, an infection of the heart valves and heart walls caused by bacteria.

In some patients with diphtheria, a toxin produced by bacteriaC. diphtheriae causes the formation of myocarditis and makes the heart muscle relax.

This causes the heart to not pump blood efficiently, so it can cause heart failure in just one week.

Several types of bacteria can cause inflammation, such as Staphylococcus, Streptococcus, diphtheria bacteria, and Lyme disease bacteria.

3. Parasites

There are several types of parasites that can cause inflammation of the myocardium, such as Trypanosoma cruzi and Toxoplasma gondii.

Apart from that, there are also parasites that are spread by insects and can cause a condition known as Chagas disease. In fact, this disease is more common in the Americas. However, anyone can be infected, including immigrants and travelers from various parts of the world, including Indonesia.

4. Fungi or mushrooms

Fungal infections, such as candida, aspergillus, and histoplasm, have the potential to trigger inflammation, especially in sufferers with poor immune systems.

Risk factors for myocarditis

Myocarditis is a condition that can occur in almost anyone, regardless of race and age. However, there are several factors that can increase a person's risk for suffering from this disease.

It is important for you to know that having one or more risk factors does not mean that you will definitely suffer from a disease or health condition.

In some cases, it is possible for a person to develop certain diseases or health conditions without any risk factors.

The following are risk factors that can trigger you to experience myocarditis:

1. Certain age groups

Although most heart disease is more common in elderly patients, inflammation of the myocardium is more common in patients in their teens to early 30s.

2. Male gender

This disease is more common in male patients, twice as many as female patients.

3. Medication or taking drugs

If you are on antibiotic treatment such as penicillin and sulfonamides, cancer treatments such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy, anti-seizure drugs, and illegal or recreational drugs such as cocaine, you have a higher risk of developing this disease.

4. Exposure to radiation or certain chemicals

If you have been exposed to certain chemicals, such as carbon monoxide, or radiation, you have a greater chance of developing this disease.

5. Patients with certain diseases

For those of you who suffer from viral infections, such as pneumonia, HIV, lupus, or arthritis, can increase your chances of getting this disease.

Having no risk factors does not mean you can't get this disease. These markings are for reference only. You should consult a specialist for more details.

Complications of myocarditis

What are the complications caused by myocarditis?

Without further treatment or medical treatment, myocarditis can cause complications to your heart, including:

1. Heart failure

Inflammation of the myocardium can damage the heart muscle, so that the heart cannot pump blood properly. In severe cases, the heart function will not work properly and requires assistive devices, even a heart transplant.

2. Heart attack or stroke

If the heart is damaged and cannot pump blood properly, the blood will potentially clot and cause coronary heart disease. However, if the blood clot blocks the artery of your heart, you can have a heart attack.

If a blood clot travels to an artery in your brain, it is possible that a stroke can occur. Therefore, myocarditis can be one of the causes of life-threatening heart attacks.

3. Cardiac arrest

This disease can cause an irregular heartbeat or arrhythmia. If the arrhythmia is not treated promptly, it can increase the risk of sudden cardiac arrest. This can lead to fatal health problems, and can even lead to death.

Myocarditis diagnosis & treatment

The information provided is not a substitute for medical advice. ALWAYS consult your doctor.

Myocarditis is difficult to diagnose because the symptoms are non-specific and appear relatively late after inflammation has occurred. However, here are some types of tests that can be done to diagnose myocarditis:

Electrocardiography

When using electrocardiography, the electrical activity in your heart will be detected by electrodes that are placed on your skin. This activity will be recorded when waves appear indicating the presence of electrical pressure on different parts of the heart.

Chest X-ray

In addition to an electrocardiogram, an X-ray also produces images on the film of the surrounding heart, lungs, and other structures in your chest. Your doctor will understand the information he gets on the X-ray about the size and shape of your heart.

Echocardiogram

If an electrocardiogram records the electrical activity in the heart, it is used to create images of the heart or analyze your blood flow. The sound waves used to draw the heart are transmitted by your body through a transducer or small plastic device.

The sound is then returned to the transducer which is used to produce images of the heart and its structures.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)

Although rarely used, MRI is also a tool that can be used to diagnose myocarditis. MRI can produce images via a magnetic field and radio waves.

Heart biopsy

Meanwhile, a heart biopsy is sometimes used to confirm a diagnosis that has been made, to determine whether the patient really has myocarditis.

What are the treatment options for myocarditis?

Treatments for heart disease include:

• Use of antibiotics or anti-inflammatory drugs to reduce inflammation.
• Use diuretics to reduce excess water in the body.
• Eat less salty foods.
• Limit mobilization.

If you have a weak heart muscle, your doctor will give you several drugs that are used to treat heart failure.

Devices such as pacemakers can also be used when your heart rate becomes erratic. In addition, you will be given blood thinners if you have an unusual blood clot in your heart.

In more severe cases, doctors will perform heart transplant surgery if your heart's contractions are too weak.

Home remedies for myocarditis

What are some lifestyle changes or home remedies that can be used to treat myocarditis?

Here are lifestyle and home remedies that can help you treat myocarditis:

• Get enough rest and balance with light exercise. Your doctor will tell you what physical activities you can do during and after the treatment process.
• Reduce consumption of foods with high salt content, limit drinking carbonated drinks and avoid smoking. Your doctor will tell you what types of drinks you should avoid as well as the right amount of salt for your diet.
• Always consult your doctor to find out the progress of the disease and your health.
• Follow your doctor's recommendations, do not take drugs that were not prescribed by your doctor or do not use drugs prescribed to you

Myocarditis prevention

In fact, there is no specific prevention for myocarditis. However, you may be able to take some precautions that are usually taken to avoid infection, such as the following.

• Avoid people with flu until they are completely cured

If you feel that someone around you has a flu-like illness, or looks like you have a virus, you should avoid direct contact with him until the person is completely cured.

Conversely, if you have the flu or various diseases caused by viruses, try not to transmit your condition to other people.

• Always practice cleanliness wherever you are

Viral diseases are often synonymous with unclean habits. Therefore, to avoid contracting various kinds of unwanted viruses and bacteria, always adopt clean living habits.

One of them is to regularly wash both hands thoroughly. This is especially true if you have recently touched something people are accustomed to touching.

• Avoid a risky lifestyle

To avoid a disease like HIV, of course you have to sort out which lifestyle can increase your risk of contracting the virus. For example, avoid casual sex and use of illegal drugs.

• Get a vaccine

One of the other preventive measures you may be able to take is a vaccine. Follow a schedule to get vaccines for a variety of viruses, including the rubella and influenza vaccines, two viruses that can cause myocarditis.

If you have any questions, consult your doctor for the best solution to your problem.