The difference between myocarditis and pericarditis is where the inflammation occurs. Myocarditis refers to inflammation of the heart muscle, and pericarditis refers to inflammation of the very thin membrane surrounding the heart.
As the location of the occurrence is different, the symptoms are also different. Because myocarditis is an inflammation of the muscles, pain occurs regardless of posture changes. When the systolic function of the left or right ventricle is impaired, dyspnea and palpitations also appear. On the other hand, in pericarditis, there is no myocardial damage, but pain occurs when the pericardium is stimulated. It usually occurs when breathing deeply, changing positions, or coughing.
Professor Park Ji-young of the Department of Cardiology at Nowon Eulji University Hospital said, “About 4.1 vaccines per 1 million inoculations, myocarditis and pericarditis can rarely occur. , after the second dose of vaccination. Most of them occur within 4 days after vaccination, so for prevention, if you have been vaccinated with Pfizer or Moderna, you should avoid excessive physical activity such as running, soccer, and basketball for about a week.” explained.
After vaccination, if you have one or more of the following symptoms: △chest pain/pressure/discomfort △shortness of breath, △pain during breathing, △palpitation, and syncope, you suspect myocarditis and seek medical attention.
For myocarditis, it is necessary to check for damage to the heart muscle, so a blood test for troponin, a cardiac enzyme, is performed. If the troponin level is high and there is abnormal heart function through ECG and heart rate monitoring, myocarditis is diagnosed.
Pericarditis is characterized by acute chest pain. Pain that worsens when lying down, breathing deeply, or coughing and relieves when sitting or leaning forward is typical. If these symptoms develop after vaccination, you should see a doctor. Pericarditis is diagnosed when pericardial friction is heard when auscultation is heard, when there is water around the heart through echocardiography or MRI, or when there is an abnormality in the electrocardiogram.
The key to treating pericarditis is pain control. Anti-inflammatory pain relievers, such as colchicine, are used to relieve pain. When inflammation is controlled, it usually improves in most cases within a week. Myocarditis is also a disease that usually improves within 1 to 2 weeks, but in rare cases, heart function deteriorates, so additional drug treatment is needed to preserve heart function.
Professor Park Ji-young said, “If there are symptoms of chest pain, palpitations, or breathing difficulties after vaccination, myocarditis and pericarditis should be suspected. Most patients responded well to treatment, and as they recover quickly, do not ignore the symptoms or put up with it. It is better to seek medical treatment from
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