Introduction
Inflammation of the heart muscle (myocarditis) is a serious disease that can be fatal if not detected in time. Since the symptoms are usually very unspecific, early diagnosis is often a challenge. Typical symptoms include fatigue and reduced resilience, which occur during or after an infection. Blood samples are also tested to ensure a rapid diagnosis. Technical examinations such as an ECG, a heart ultrasound or MRI also play an important role in detecting myocarditis.
By which symptoms can one recognize a heart muscle inflammation?
Myocarditis is very difficult to detect because the symptoms are unspecific. Even specialists usually need technical aids to diagnose the disease. It is important to know that myocarditis usually occurs as a result of an infection.
This can present itself in the form of a simple cold, but influenza can also be the cause of myocarditis. The signs of myocarditis are usually only increased fatigue and a performance kink, since the heart cannot pump sufficiently, especially under stress. It is also characteristic that the symptoms continue after the infection.
Some affected persons feel a heart stumbling, in which some heartbeats suddenly become very clearly perceptible. This can be an expression of a cardiac arrhythmia caused by myocarditis. Pain in the chest area is rather rare. These are only typical for myocarditis if the pericardium is also affected.
How does the doctor diagnose myocarditis?
In order to diagnose myocarditis, doctors are usually dependent on technical equipment. Nevertheless, the anamnesis is the first priority. Here, the doctor will ask about the symptoms on the one hand.
Typical symptoms would be fatigue, reduced resilience, possibly also cardiac arrhythmia and chest pain. These complaints generally indicate heart problems. In order to make a diagnosis of myocarditis, it is also asked whether the person concerned has had an infection in the past.
Since colds or flu can be the trigger of the inflammation, this aspect is particularly important and purposeful. During the physical examination, water retention may be detected. These occur when the pumping capacity of the heart decreases.
Heart murmurs can also be heard in some patients. After the examination, an ECG is first written, during which heart rhythm disturbances can be found. In addition, blood samples are examined in which enzymes from destroyed heart muscle cells can be found.
A search for the pathogen (virus, bacterium) is also possible. The next diagnostic steps include imaging procedures such as an X-ray, a heart ultrasound or a heart MRI. To confirm the diagnosis, a biopsy is usually taken from the heart muscle.
