When can I do sports again afterwards?
Myocarditis can lead to sudden heart failure during exercise, often with fatal consequences. Therefore, a ban on sports must be strictly adhered to. Before physical activity can be resumed, a detailed examination must be carried out by the treating physician.
This usually includes laboratory tests as well as a physical examination and an ultrasound of the heart. Only when an existing functional impairment of the left ventricle can be safely ruled out should sport be resumed. Due to the severity of the disease, a break of about 3 months is not uncommon.
What can be the consequences of myocarditis?
Myocarditis is an inflammation of the heart muscles, often affecting the conduction system. This can lead to acute cardiac dysrhythmia. In addition, individual parts of the conduction system can be permanently damaged, so that persistent cardiac dysrhythmia is a possible consequence.
Myocarditis can become acutely dangerous if a pericardial tamponade develops as a result. Fluid is deposited in the pericardium. Since the pericardium cannot expand, too much fluid accumulation leads to a narrowing of the heart.
Under certain circumstances, this can lead to life-threatening functional limitations. In about 15% of cases, myocarditis turns into dilated cardiomyopathy. This is a disease of the heart muscle that leads to an enlargement of the ventricles and thus of the entire heart.
The consequence is a reduced ejection capacity of the heart (per beat the heart can pump less blood). The most dangerous and frightening consequence of myocarditis occurs mainly when the heart involvement in an infection is not detected in time. Particularly during sporting activities, sudden heart failure (often with fatal consequences) can occur.
Myocarditis after alcohol consumption
In rare cases, myocarditis can occur as a result of the use of toxic (poisonous) substances. These substances include alcohol. This is particularly the case if alcohol is consumed regularly and/or in large quantities.
If consumed continuously, alcohol can attack the heart muscle cells. In addition, regular consumption of alcohol damages the immune system. The combination of damage to the heart muscle and an insufficiently functioning immune system promotes the development of myocarditis. However, this is often not noticed and is therefore more of a chance finding.
