Inflammation is a process that occurs in the body when injury or infection occurs. Acute inflammation is a result of the body’s white blood cells acting to protect against infection. Fever, pain and swelling are signals of inflammation indicating that the immune system is functioning properly.
Chronic inflammation, on the other hand, is hard to detect and comes from the digestive system. Chronic inflammation increases the risk for many diseases such as heart disease, arthritis and stroke.
Causes of Inflammation
There are a variety of causes of inflammation in the body including:
-viral, bacterial and fungal infections
-food allergies
-exposure to toxins
-lack of proper diet and exercise
-build-up of stress
-intake of certain drugs
Inflammation of the Heart
There are different types of heart inflammation. Myocarditis is the inflammation of the heart’s muscles. Endocarditis is the inflammation of the endocardium or what is known as the inner lining of the heart that mostly involves the valves of the heart. Pericarditis is the inflammation of the membranous sac that surrounds the heart, also known as the pericardium. Inflammation of the heart can result from many causes. It is mostly caused by infections that are viral, bacterial and fungal. It may also be caused by health conditions such as measles, hepatitis, influenza and chicken pox.
There are also certain medications that contribute to the increased risk of the inflammation of the heart such as cocaine. Cocaine is confirmed to increase the risk for coronary artery disease, heart attacks, and most importantly, myocarditis. Exposure to chemicals also increases the risk for inflammation of the heart so it is best to avoid certain chemical such as arsenic.
How Lifestyle Plays a Part
Lifestyle also plays a role in the development of inflammation of the heart. Cigarette smoking, hypertension (high blood pressure) and hyperglycemia (high blood sugar) are some of the major causes of the release of the chemicals that activate the inflammatory process.
If the heart is experiencing signs and symptoms such as heart rhythm disturbances and irregularities, erratic and rapid heartbeats, shortness of breath, fatigue and ventricular enlargement, then it is important to seek a consultation with a cardiologist in order to treat this possible of inflammation in the heart. Often, myocarditis may appear unexpectedly in connection with heart attacks or heart failure.
Diagnosing Inflammation
In order to diagnose inflammation of the heart, the signs and symptoms must be closely monitored. A series of laboratory blood tests are also performed and routine tests such as an electrocardiogram (EKG), catheterization and angiography may be used to determine the presence of inflammation.
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