Pericarditis - a disorder characterized by inflammation of the pericardium, the thin lining of the heart, which is also called the heart bag. Pericarditis often causes chest pain and sometimes other symptoms. In most cases of pericarditis attacks are sudden and short-lived - acute pericarditis.

If symptoms appear gradually and / or they are very persistent, chronic pericarditis is considered. Acute chest pain associated with pericarditis, appear when the inflamed pericardium layers begin to rub against each other.

In mild cases of pericarditis can pass by itself. In more serious cases require medications and, rarely, surgical treatment. Early diagnosis and treatment can help reduce the risk of complications of pericarditis.

Symptoms

Acute pericarditis usually lasts less than a few weeks. Chronic pericarditis may last six months or more.

The most common symptom of acute pericarditis is a sharp pain behind the breastbone or in the left side of the chest. However, some people with acute pericarditis, describe their pain as dull and oppressive, of varying intensity.

The pain of acute pericarditis may be given in the left shoulder and neck. It is often worse when the patient lie down and / or deep breathing. Cough and ingestion of food can also worsen the pain. To ease the pain, it is usually recommended to sit down and lean forward. In some cases it may be difficult to distinguish pain from pericarditis, the pain typical of a heart attack.

Chronic pericarditis is characterized by persistent inflammation and can lead to exudative pericarditis. The most common symptom of chronic pericarditis is chest pain Chest pain is one symptom - a lot of diseases   - Generally not as strong as in acute pericarditis.

Depending on the type of pericarditis, the above symptoms may be accompanied by the following features:

• Shortness of breath
• The slight rise in body temperature
• The general feeling of weakness and malaise
• Dry cough
• Swelling of the abdomen and legs

Seek urgent medical help when a severe pain in the heart. Symptoms similar with the symptoms of pericarditis, may have a heart attack, pulmonary embolism Pulmonary embolism - a dangerous violation   and certain other disorders; before starting to treat pericarditis, to exclude the likelihood of having more severe the patient's disease.

Causes

Under normal circumstances, a two-layer pericardium contained a small amount of liquid. When pericarditis occurs not only inflammation of the pericardium, and, in some cases, increase in the liquid contained therein.

It is often difficult to determine the cause of pericarditis. In most cases, your doctor, or you can not identify the cause (then talk about idiopathic pericarditis), or it is assumed that it was caused by a viral infection.

Pericarditis may also develop shortly after a heart attack, which is caused by damage to the heart muscle. Sometimes pericarditis develops several weeks after a heart attack or heart surgery, resulting in the formation of antibodies. This violation is known as Dressler's syndrome. Many experts believe that the development of Dressler's syndrome is caused by an autoimmune reaction - are subject to the impact of antibodies, in this case, the heart and pericardium.

Other possible causes of pericarditis:

• Systemic inflammatory disease such as lupus and rheumatoid arthritis Arthritis - a variety of forms and complications .
• Injuries. Various damaged heart and / or chest through, for example, car accidents, can over time lead to the development of pericarditis.
• Other diseases, including kidney failure, AIDS, tuberculosis Tuberculosis - a full recovery is not guaranteed   and cancer.
• Some medications, however, in rare cases, can cause the development of pericarditis.

Complications

Constrictive pericarditis. Some patients with pericarditis, especially when prolonged inflammation and chronic relapses, can seal, scarring and fusion of layers of the pericardium. In these patients, the pericardium is largely loses its elasticity and becomes stiff shell that prevents the heart to work properly. This condition is called constrictive pericarditis; it often leads to severe swelling of the legs and abdomen, as well as constant shortness of breath.

Cardiac tamponade - a condition characterized by excessive accumulation of fluid in the pericardium. Excess fluid exerts pressure on the heart and does not allow adequately fill with blood. This causes a sharp drop in blood pressure. If untreated cardiac tamponade may result in death of the patient.

Konkor - a drug that lowers blood pressure, heart rate and restores dilates coronary arteries that carry blood to the heart muscle. But, like any effective drug Concor has a lot of side effects and contraindications.

How does Concor

Concor (INN - bisoprolol hemifumarate) - beta1-selective blocker of long-acting, which is available in tablets of 5 and 10 mg of the Austrian pharmaceutical company Nycomed.

Drugs belonging to the group of selective beta1-blockers act on beta1-adrenergic receptors - nerve endings in the heart, sensitive to adrenaline. Adrenaline is also called the stress hormone How to beat stress? Create an oasis As under the influence of his body prepares to reflect any attack: blood vessels constrict, blood pressure rises, the heart begins to contract often widen the bronchi and miss as much air, the number of respiratory movements increased.

On adrenergic receptors located in other organs, the drug almost no effect. However, sometimes this effect nevertheless manifested as side effects, such as bronchoconstriction (bronchospasm), but it is rare, as it is believed that it acts selectively konkor heart.

When administered konkor rapidly absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract into the bloodstream. Its maximum effect is achieved after three to four hours after ingestion and lasts for days. Achieving a stable reduction of blood pressure is achieved within two weeks after receiving the drug.

Which diseases appointed Concor and when it is contraindicated

Concor is prescribed for the following diseases:

• stable high blood pressure (hypertension);
• coronary heart disease and angina at rest Angina rest - invisible enemy   and voltage;
• violation of the cardiovascular system - chronic heart failure.
• Concor Take once a day, in the morning, regardless of the meal, not chewing the tablet and drinking it with a small amount of water. Dose selects a physician, it is usually individual. Concor is appointed for a long time as a drug and the abolition of basic therapy it should be gradual.

Concor is impossible to accept the following diseases and conditions:

• congestive heart failure;
• chronic heart failure decompensation (when the heart is unable to cope with its function), which requires treatment with positive inotropic effects (eg, cardiac glycosides, which cause the heart to contract more strongly and rare);
• cardiogenic shock (e.g., against myocardial infarction);
• atrioventricular block (atrioventricular, AV-blockade) II and III, if the patient is not pacemaker;
• sick sinus syndrome (SSS) - the main driver's heart rate;
• sinoatrial blockade - when impaired cardiac conduction of impulses from the sinus node to the atrium;
• very rare heart rate (bradycardia) with a heart rate less than 60 beats per minute;
• low blood pressure;
• severe respiratory diseases that are accompanied by obstruction of the bronchi (bronchial asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease);
• significant violations of peripheral blood circulation, such as occlusive disease - persistent narrowing of the arteries of the lower extremities;
• pheochromocytoma - hormonal adrenal tumors;
• serious illness (eg, kidney), which are accompanied by severe metabolic disorders Metabolism: The basis of life of all living things   (metabolic acidosis);
• children and adolescents under 18 years of age (lack of data on efficacy and safety);
• while feeding the baby Breastfeeding - a personal choice   breast;
• Hypersensitivity to the Concor.

In many diseases, this drug is prescribed with caution, which is why it must appoint a doctor. During pregnancy, Concor is used only for health reasons and the decision to accept the appointment of the attending physician.

Side effects

Side effect Concor appears as follows:

• on the part of the cardiovascular system - bradycardia, increased symptoms of chronic heart failure, coldness or numbness of limbs, a significant decrease in blood pressure, heart block;
• the central nervous system - dizziness, headache, sometimes - loss of consciousness, depression, insomnia, hallucinations;
• From the senses - dryness of the conjunctiva, conjunctivitis, hearing impairment;
• from respiratory - bronchospasm;
• the part of the digestive system - nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or constipation, impaired liver function;
• other organs and systems - muscular weakness, muscle jerking, sexual dysfunction, hair loss, exacerbation of psoriasis, lethargy, fatigue, allergic reactions.

Concor - is an effective means of heart, which can be taken only on prescription.

Galina Romanenko