With the alternation of autumn and winter, the sudden rise and fall of temperatures, and the common cold, many people do not pay special attention to it. However, if you feel palpitations, shortness of breath, chest tightness, chest pain... after catching a cold, you should be vigilant, it may be "myocarditis"!
What is myocarditis? Myocarditis refers to an inflammatory disease of the myocardium, which can be divided into infectious and non infectious types. Mainly infectious, with the former being mainly viral. So, what we generally refer to is viral myocarditis. Common viral infections include Coxsackievirus B and orphan virus. Especially Coxsackievirus B is the most common, accounting for about 30% to 50%. In addition, some viruses can also cause myocarditis, such as influenza, human adenovirus, rubella, herpes simplex, encephalitis, hepatitis virus, EB virus, cytomegalovirus, and HIV virus. Explosive myocarditis belongs to a type of viral myocarditis, which is a critical and severe form of myocarditis. The onset is acute, the condition develops rapidly, and the prognosis is poor. Therefore, once diagnosed with fulminant myocarditis, timely intervention and active treatment are necessary.
What are the symptoms of myocarditis?
1. Precursor symptoms
Before and after the onset of myocarditis, there may be prodromal symptoms of viral infection, often manifested as fever, general fatigue, muscle soreness, nausea and vomiting, etc. It generally does not cause discomfort to the heart, so it is easily overlooked by people.
2. Acute attack symptoms
When it progresses to the acute phase, it is often accompanied by fatigue, palpitations, chest tightness, shortness of breath, chest pain, dizziness, and other severe symptoms. In severe cases, breathing difficulties and lower limb edema may also occur, causing acute left heart failure. Some may even faint directly.
3. Recurrent or persistent symptoms
Some patients with myocarditis may transition from acute to recurrent or persistent symptoms, and the course of the disease is long. At this time, patients are prone to symptoms such as fatigue, palpitations, chest tightness, occasional arrhythmia, and cardiac arrest.
Why do myocarditis "like" young people? Young people have high work pressure and do not pay much attention to healthy lifestyles. They often work hard for their careers, overload their work, and do not pay attention to rest, which can easily lead to a decrease in their resistance. A large proportion of young people who develop myocarditis are due to the body's "overreaction" to viral infections, known as "hypersensitivity" immune response. Strong young people often have an immune system that is prone to "overreaction" when the virus comes, and when killing the virus, they also accidentally damage the good heart muscle cells.
How to prevent myocarditis?
1. Prevention of infection
Most cases of myocarditis are caused by viral infections, so the key to preventing myocarditis is to prevent the invasion of viruses, especially respiratory and intestinal infections. In daily life, patients can choose appropriate exercise to enhance their immune system, avoid overwork, strengthen nutrition, and pay attention to adding clothing in winter and spring seasons to avoid the invasion of colds.
2. Adequate rest
Adequate rest time is very important for patients with acute myocarditis. Rest time may need to be determined according to the patient's condition, and bed rest should be done as much as possible to avoid emotional stimulation.
3. Dietary regulation
It is recommended that patients eat more protein and vitamin rich foods in their daily diet. Most vegetables and fruits have high vitamin content and are recommended for consumption. Eat less spicy and stimulating foods, and avoid smoking and drinking. People can eat ginseng Congee, chrysanthemum Congee and other foods that are conducive to the recovery of myocarditis.
4. Enhance physical exercise
Regularly participating in some sports exercises can be helpful for the recovery of diseases. So in daily life, you can run and dance more, and develop appropriate physical exercise based on your own situation.
In addition, patients with myocarditis should actively cooperate with doctors for treatment, maintain an optimistic attitude, follow medical advice, use medication reasonably, and have regular follow-up visits to better grasp the development of the condition and facilitate subsequent treatment.