Pericarditis

What is pericarditis? 

Pericarditis is when your pericardium (the protective sac that surrounds your heart) is inflamed. Inflammation is your body’s way of fighting against things that could harm it, such as infections or injuries, so that it can heal itself. When your pericardium is inflamed it can cause symptoms that can affect your daily life.

Pericarditis can sometimes happen together with myocarditis (inflammation of the heart muscle) and they have similar symptoms. If you have both pericarditis and myocarditis, this is sometimes known as myopericarditis.

If you’ve been diagnosed with pericarditis or think you might have symptoms of pericarditis, it can feel worrying. But pericarditis is not usually a serious condition.

•  We can help you to live with pericarditis – find the right support for you.

What are the symptoms of pericarditis?

• feel sharp or stabbing (however some people have dull, pressure-like chest-pain)
• be felt on the left-hand side of the chest or behind your breastbone
• may spread to your shoulder and arms
• get worse when coughing, swallowing, lying down (especially on your left side) or taking a deep breath
• get better when leaning forward.

Other pericarditis symptoms include:

• having a high temperature
• feeling hot and shivery
• feeling sick
• feeling light-headed
• shortness of breath.

Getting diagnosed and treated early can help you feel better and lower the risk of long-term complications from pericarditis, so speak to a doctor if you have these symptoms.

When to get help

You should call 999 immediately, if:

• your chest pain makes your chest feel tight or heavy
• your chest pain lasts more than 15 minutes
• your pain spreads to the arms, back, neck and jaw
• you also feel short of breath or feel sick.

What causes pericarditis?

Pericarditis is most commonly caused by:

• a virus, such as the flu or Covid-19, or another infection
• inflammatory conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis.

More rarely pericarditis can be caused by:

• injury to the chest, for example after a car accident, heart surgery, or heart attack
• another health problem, such as cancer, kidney failure, or an underactive thyroid
• certain medicines or vaccines.

Read more about pericarditis and Covid-19 vaccines.

Sometimes it isn’t possible to know the cause of pericarditis. This is known as idiopathic pericarditis. This can be frustrating and difficult. There is support available to help you manage your condition and your mental wellbeing – find out how we can help.

How is pericarditis diagnosed? 

Pericarditis can be hard to diagnose. Your GP will listen to your chest because pericarditis can change the sound it makes.

You may also have tests such as:

• blood tests to check for infections and inflammation
• an electrocardiogram (ECG) 
• an echocardiogram (echo) 
• a chest X-ray.  

You may also have a cardiac MRI or CT scan. 

These tests are very common, don’t take long (sometimes just a few minutes), and most people don’t feel any pain or discomfort when having them.

How do you treat pericarditis?

How your pericarditis is treated will depend on what is causing it. Treatments for pericarditis may include:

• anti-inflammatory painkillers, like ibuprofen 
• colchicine, a medicine for treating inflammation and pain
• steroids, if colchicine does not work
• antibiotics, if pericarditis is caused by a bacterial infection.

Rarely, if pericarditis symptoms continue and get worse, a pericardial window may be recommended. This is surgery which drains the inflamed lining surrounding the heart.

Your doctor will discuss treatments and explain which one is right for you. Some people find it useful to think about questions they’ll ask before an appointment and write these down on paper, or on their phone, so they don’t forget to discuss them with their doctor. Questions you might find helpful to ask your doctor include:

• What is my follow-up plan?
• Any tips for managing symptoms?
• How and when can I return to exercise?
• How and when can I return to work?

How to treat chest pain from pericarditis

Living with pericarditis chest pain can be difficult, but there are things you can do to help ease the pain and feel better. They include:

• taking painkillers and anti-inflammatory pain medicine (chat to your doctor about this)
• sitting up
• leaning forward.

Have a chat with your doctor about how to manage your pain and what to do if it’s not getting better.

If the pain suddenly gets worse and lasts more than 15 minutes, or you have any new symptoms, this could be a heart attack, so call 999 immediately.

Recovery from pericarditis

Most people recover from pericarditis within a few weeks, but for some it can take several months.

Dealing with ongoing pericarditis symptoms can be tough, but it is possible to live a normal life with the right support – find out more about what emotional support is available.

How to sleep with pericarditis

If you have pericarditis, you might find the pain or anxiety about the symptoms is making it harder for you to sleep at night. Some top tips to help you fall asleep and get back to sleep if you wake in the night include:

• Find a position that is comfortable for you. Some people find sleeping in a more upright, sitting position more comfortable.
• Take some pain relief before going to bed. Speak to your doctor about the best ways to manage your pain.
• If anxious thoughts are making it harder to sleep, get tips for coping with anxiety.
• Get more suggestions for simple changes you can make to sleep better.

Can I work with pericarditis?

Depending on how serious your pericarditis symptoms are and what kind of work you need to do, you may need to take time off work.

If you’re not well enough to go to work, or if work is holding up your recovery, you can get a “fit note” (Statement of Fitness to Work) from your GP, so chat to your GP about this.

It can feel difficult to talk to work about taking time off, or you may be worried about whether you’ll get sick pay.

Get answers to your questions about work and a heart condition, whether you’re employed, self-employed, or a temporary worker.

Find out about financial help you may be able to get from the government if you’re dealing with long-term ill health. You can also get free and impartial advice about managing your money from moneyhelper.org.uk and find out about benefits and other sources of financial support at turn2us.org.uk.

Can I exercise with pericarditis?

Pericarditis can affect anyone, even people who had good health beforehand. If you have pericarditis, your body needs time to rest and recover. Chat to your doctor about when and how you can return to exercise.

They can talk to you about the type of exercise that will be safe for you to do. It’s usually recommended that you avoid high-intensity exercise for at least three months, but there might be other activities you can do instead.

• Get tips on how to recover well.

Support and information

Being diagnosed with pericarditis and living with pericarditis symptoms can feel overwhelming so we are here to help.

• Talk to one of our cardiac nurses on the Heart Helpline.
• Chat with your GP about how you're feeling, or find a talking therapy on the NHS website.
• Speak to others with heart conditions by joining a support group or online community.
• Sign up to our Heart Matters magazine and email newsletter, packed with health and recovery tips.