I am 32 years old and had chest pain a few weeks ago that I thought felt like what people describe for a heart attack, so I went to the doctor. He told me it was not a heart attack, but it was inflammation around the heart due to a viral infection that I recently had. He treated me with medication, and I felt better for a week or so, but now the symptoms have recurred. Should I see another doctor; could he have given me the wrong diagnosis?
Your doctor probably told you that you have pericarditis. This is an inflammation around the heart, and it can be associated with a recent viral illness, just as you described. The treatment is with anti-inflammatory medications, and sometimes with a course of steroids. The symptoms can persist for some time, and the symptoms can be recurrent, so your doctor may still be correct in his diagnosis. Most cardiologists will check blood work for markers of inflammation, such as the ESR and the CRP, to confirm the diagnosis. Go back to see him again with your new symptoms.
Expert: News Canada
To learn more about pericarditis, watch this video from VideoMD.com.
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