Medical history (history of illness) is an important component in the diagnosis of pericarditis (inflammation of the heart sac).
Family history
- Is there a history of frequent cardiovascular disease in your family?
Social history
Current medical history/systemic history (somatic and psychological complaints).
- Are you experiencing pain? If yes, when does the pain occur?
- Where is the pain localized? (e.g., behind the breastbone) Does the pain radiate (into the neck, throat, left shoulder, or arms)?
- Does the pain intensify when lying down, sitting, etc.?
- Do you have abdominal pain?
- Do you suffer from (seizure-like) shortness of breath?*
- Do you feel sluggish, tired?
- Have you noticed water retention on the body?
- Have you noticed an increase in weight? (v.a. Increase in abdominal girth due to ascites / abdominal dropsy).
Vegetative anamnesis incl. nutritional anamnesis.
- Have you lost weight? Please tell us your body weight (in kg) and height (in cm).
- Do you smoke? If so, how many cigarettes, cigars or pipes per day?
- Do you drink alcohol? If yes, what drink(s) and how many glasses per day?
Self history incl. medication history.
- Pre-existing conditions (cardiovascular disease, infections).
- Operations
- Allergies
Medication history
- Anti-TNF blockers – drugs used in the treatment of inflammatory diseases.
- Amiodarone (antiarrhythmic drug) – drug used in the treatment of numerous cardiac arrhythmias.
- Anticoagulants (blood-thinning drugs), unspecified.
- Bromocriptine (prolactin inhibitor) – drug used to inhibit prolactin formation.
- Ciclosporin (cyclosporin A) (immunosuppressant) – drug from the group of immunosuppressants.
- Clozapine (neuroleptic) – drug from the group of neuroleptics.
- Dantrolene (muscle relaxant) – hydantoin derivative from the group of muscle relaxants.
- Hydralazine (antihypertensive) – drug belonging to the group of antihypertensives (antihypertensives).
- Isoniazid (tuberculostat) – drug against tuberculosis.
- Mesalazine – anti-inflammatory drug used in the treatment of Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.
- Methyldopa (antihypertensive).
- Methysergide (migraine medication)
- Minoxidil (antihypertensive) – drug belonging to the group of antihypertensives (antihypertensives).
- P-aminosalicylic acid (tuberculostat).
- Phenylbutazone (NSAID) – non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug.
- Phenytoin (anti-epileptic drug)
- Practolol (selective beta-blocker).
- Procainamide (antiarrhythmic drug) – drug from the group of antiarrhythmic drugs (against cardiac arrhythmias).
- Thiazides (diuretics)
- Streptokinase (fibrinolytic) – thrombolytic agent from the group of fibrinolytics.
- Streptomycin (antibiotic) – bactericidal antibiotic from the group of aminoglycosides.
- Thiouracil (thyrostatic)
- Cytostatic drugs (doxorubicin, daunorubicin, 5-fluorouracil, cyclophosphamide).
* If this question has been answered with “Yes”, an immediate visit to the doctor is required! (Data without guarantee)