Viral Myocarditis: Treatment, Cost and Side Effects

The heart is made of muscles. Myocardium is a major cardiac muscle that lies between the outer layer of the heart and the inner layer of the heart. It is a very important component of the heart as it assists the pumping of the heart. When the myocardium is damaged or is inflamed, a condition called myocarditis develops which leads to sudden death in many young people. It can affect a healthy person with no underlying medical condition.

Myocarditis can develop owing to viral infection. It can also be a result of a long term autoimmune disease like rheumatoid arthritis or lupus. An autoimmune disease is a condition where the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks the healthy cells. In rare cases myocarditis can also be a resulting cause of contagious diseases; exposure to toxic materials cannot be ruled out too.

Myocarditis is accompanied by symptoms such as shortness of breath, chest pain, irregular heart beat etc. Therefore, if a person observes these sudden changes he/she should immediately consult a doctor. Negligence can lead to serious conditions such as heart failure and stroke. Thankfully, there are medicines to cure the ill disposed cardiac muscle. In case the condition is severe, there are devices to assist the pumping of the heart.

In rare cases a patient is cured from myocarditis naturally. However, in most cases treatment is required. Firstly, the doctor would diagnose the condition of the heart. Electrocardiogram is a heart test where the electrical impulses of the heart are detected and if there are abnormal electrical impulses present, it will be caught in the test itself. Chest X-Ray and MRI scan are tests that can be conducted to evaluate the shape and structure of the heart and to check whether there is fluid in the heart. Other tests include echocardiogram and blood tests. In the first case it is assessed whether the heart is enlarged or the pumping is abnormal. The second test evaluates the presence of antibodies in the body or the presence of certain enzymes that might cause abnormalities in the heart. It is also performed to count the level of white blood corpuscles and red blood corpuscles.

Some of the compounds that can be given to a patient with myocarditis include beta-blockers, diuretics, ACE inhibitors, Angiotensin receptor blockers. These medicines regularize the blood flow as well as the pumping of the heart. If there is excessive fluid in the heart these medicines work to remove it.

Medicines can be inserted in the body using intravenous procedure. Those who have very weak heart are given mechanical support to assist the pumping of the heart. This includes ventricular assist devices, balloon pump and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation.

Some of the common symptoms of myocarditis include shortness of breath, chest pain, irregular heartbeat, swollen feet, ankles and joints. If you are observing these anomalies lately consult a doctor immediately. Myocarditis also develops after a viral infection. Therefore, if you have had a viral infection in the recent past, it is an imperative to get your heart tested.

There is a range of cardiac disorders that have the same symptoms as myocarditis. Therefore if you have shortness of breath it does not necessarily mean that you have myocarditis. It could anything from coronary artery disease to angina. In that case you would not require the treatment for myocarditis.

Some of the common side effects of myocarditis treatment includes headache, fainting, gastrointestinal problems, low blood pressure. In most cases, patients may not experience any of these effects. However, the good thing is that even if these symptoms do occur, they can be easily controlled and the side effects are not long lasting.

Myocarditis is a condition that affects the middle layer of the muscle in the heart. After medication and treatment it takes some time the before heart recovers completely. A patient should go back to normal activities only when the doctor says so. Usually a patient is recommended to not perform activities that are stressful. He/she might need to follow certain dietary restrictions. For example, he/she should abstain from drinking and smoking, and, the intake of salt should be brought down too.

It should not take more than 4 to 6 weeks for a person to recover from myocarditis. After that, upon the advice of the doctor, the patient can get back to normal activitis.

Myocarditis usually does not recur. So yes the treatment is permanent. In very rare cases the codition can crop up again. But to be on the safe side a patient should be under constant medical observation.

Myocarditis is a heart condition and there are various natural herbs and products that work to make the heart strong. These include ginger, garlic, Bilberry, Grapefruit, fenugreek, and, aloe vera. Try to include these in your diet to reduce the chances of acquiring a heart disease.