Introduction
Since myocarditis is a serious, serious disease, it is very important that a conscientious diagnosis is made when suspicion arises and that the myocarditis is not overlooked. The diagnosis of myocarditis is determined by the following possibilities: The points are discussed in more detail below. You may also be interested in this topic:
- Medical history
- Physical examination
- Blood test
- ECG
- Imaging procedures (ultrasound, MRT, X-ray)
- Heart muscle inflammation
- Symptoms of heart muscle inflammation
- Heart muscle inflammation due to sports
Medical history
As with any disease, the diagnosis begins with the medical history. The symptoms of myocarditis are very variable. Indicative of this can be: Myocarditis can mimic heart failure.
Its symptoms include not only shortness of breath and loss of performance, but also the following: The symptoms often occur a few days to weeks after an infection of the upper respiratory tract. If the medical history is indicative of an inflammation of the heart muscle, this must be investigated further. As a rule, the medical history is followed by a physical examination and auscultation of the heart with the aid of a stethoscope before further diagnostic equipment is used.
- Tiredness
- Performance degradation
- Tachycardia
- Chest pain
- Shortness of breath
- Edema especially in the legs
- Pulmonary edema is possible
- Cardiac arrhythmias
- Increased urination during the night.
Physical examination and auscultation
During the physical examination, the doctor first inspects the patient from the outside and gets a more precise picture of any pathological changes. In the case of heart muscle inflammation, for example, any edema on the lower legs is examined and palpated. If breathing is difficult, the physician determines the patient’s breathing rate, often without informing the patient, since breathing can best be assessed if the patient does not pay attention to it.
After the physical inspection and examination, the heart and lungs are auscultated. During the auscultation of the heart, a stethoscope can be used to assess the heart sounds over the four heart valves. Usually two heart sounds can be heard.
They are produced during the pumping action of the heart by closing the respective heart valves. Characteristic findings of myocarditis during auscultation are If the heart valves cannot close completely, turbulence occurs in the bloodstream, which can be heard as a murmur. Depending on which valve and at what time the noise is audible, a statement can be made as to which valve is affected.
If the pericardium, which surrounds the heart, is also affected by the heart muscle inflammation, a rubbing can be heard with the stethoscope over the chest. If an effusion has formed as a result of the inflammation, the heart sounds are only audible to a lesser extent. When listening to the lungs, a pathological breathing sound may be audible in the case of myocarditis due to pulmonary edema following heart failure or a still existing infection of the airways.
- A third and fourth heartbeat
- Cardiac arrhythmia due to a rhythm deviation
- Pathological heart murmurs due to insufficient closing of the heart valves
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