4. Myocarditis
When a viral infection affects the heart, it creates inflammation of the tissue resulting in a mild feeling of pressure or pain in the chest. Myocarditis affects over 1.5-million people across the globe each year. Other symptoms of the condition include heart palpitations, shortness of breath, and swelling in the legs.
In some cases, of myocarditis, patients experience a decline in blood flow that leads to confusion and diminishing cognitive function as the brain does not receive enough oxygen. Therefore, it’s critical that you don’t drive to the hospital yourself.
Doctors treat myocarditis with antiviral medications to kill off the invading pathogens and reduce the swelling symptoms in heart tissue. If left untreated, myocarditis can lead to severe complications, including heart attack or stroke to the affected individual.
For patients that notice heart arrhythmia – it’s best to have someone drive you to the emergency room immediately, for assessment and diagnosis by a medical professional.