inflammation of the myocardium.
Myocarditis is an inflammation of the heart , usually caused by a viral or bacterial infection to the muscular part of the heart.
Myocarditis may cause signs of heart failure and the patient may feel chest pain, fever or suffer sudden death. Myocarditis on the CDC website is defined as inflammation of the heart muscle. According to the CDC website, "Systemic and organ-specific autoimmune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis and myocarditis , are the leading cause of death in women >65 years of age. "(1) They affect 14-22 million people which is 5% to 8% of the people in the United States.
As myocarditis sets in and becomes deadly, the heart becomes weak and can't pump your bllod through your body as well. Clots can also form due to myocarditis and lead to stroke or heart attack. Because there is more than one cause for myocarditis, treatments vary. I will cover causes and treatments more in depth in the next blog entry. Please come back to check it out!
(1) Retrieved February 2, 2009 : http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/eid/vol10no11/pdfs/ICWID_SS.pdf
(2) Photo (right) Retrieved February 2, 2009 from http://www.doctorsofusc.com/condition/document/97009
(3) Photo (left) Retrieved February 2, 2009 from
http://www.amyshah.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/10/heart-failure.jpeg
