What is myocarditis?

**What is myocarditis or inflammation of the heart?** Myocarditis is an inflammatory disease of the heart muscle that can disrupt the normal function of the heart. It can be asymptomatic or cause serious heart problems. In some cases, myocarditis occurs suddenly and in other cases it may progress gradually. Various reasons can lead to **inflammation of the heart muscle**... the most common cause is **viral infections**, but other factors also play a role in the occurrence of this disease: ### **Myocarditis is caused by viral infections** Many cases of myocarditis are caused by viral infections...viruses such as coxsackie, influenza, SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes covid-19) and herpes viruses can attack the heart and cause inflammation....when the body's immune system fights these viruses, it may also damage the heart muscle...this type of myocarditis is less common but can have serious complications...in some areas of the world Diseases such as Chagas disease, which is caused by a parasite, can cause myocarditis. Fungal infections in people with weakened immune systems can also cause this disease. Vasculitis can cause the heart to become inflamed. Certain drugs, alcohol, drugs, and chemical toxins such as carbon monoxide can damage the heart muscle and cause inflammation. Ha** In rare cases, some drugs or vaccines may cause an abnormal immune response and lead to myocarditis. These cases are usually mild and resolve on their own... **How ​​to diagnose myocarditis** **Diagnosis of myocarditis** due to the similarity of its symptoms with other **heart diseases** requires careful tests and examinations.... Doctors use different methods to identify this disease.... Diagnosis of myocarditis requires a combination of clinical examination, blood tests, imaging and in some cases heart biopsy.... Doctors choose the most appropriate diagnostic methods according to the conditions and diagnostic status of the patient.... This disease is to prevent heart complications It is very important.... ### **Physical examination and examination of the patient's symptoms** The doctor first examines the patient's medical history and evaluates his symptoms. Symptoms such as chest pain, shortness of breath, palpitations, and fatigue may be signs of **myocarditis.. The doctor may also look for signs of inflammation such as fever or swelling in the body. Give a definite... ### **Blood test** By performing **blood tests**, doctors can identify **symptoms of inflammation and damage to the heart muscle**. Some of the **blood tests** include the following: - **The level of cardiac enzymes (such as troponin and creatine kinase - CK-MB):** These enzymes increase in case of damage to the heart muscle... - **Inflammatory markers (CRP and ESR):** A high level of these markers may indicate inflammation in the body... - **Tests to check for viral or bacterial infections... ### **Echocardiography** **Echocardiography** is an **imaging method using sound waves** that examines the structure and **function of the heart**. This method can show the following: - Reducing the ability of the heart to contract - Swelling or inflammation of the heart muscle - accumulation of fluid around the heart (pericardial effusion) ### **MRI of the heart (cardiac magnetic resonance imaging - CMR)** **MRI of the heart** is an accurate method for observing inflammation and **damage in the heart muscle**.... In this method, high resolution images are taken from the heart and the doctor can identify the inflamed areas.... This method is one of the best diagnostic tools to confirm **myocarditis**... ### **Chest X-ray** **X-rays** of the chest can help detect an abnormal heart or fluid accumulation in the lungs.... these may be signs of heart failure due to myocarditis**... ### **Exercise test or cardiac stress test** In some cases, the doctor may prescribe an **exercise test** to evaluate the heart's function and observe its response to physical activity.... If the heart's function is abnormal in this test, more tests may be needed... ### **Heart catheterization and heart muscle biopsy** In cases where the definitive diagnosis of myocarditis is difficult, the doctor may use a heart biopsy. In this procedure, a thin tube (catheter) is passed through a blood vessel to the heart and a small sample of heart muscle tissue is removed and examined under a microscope. This method helps the doctor to detect inflammation, cell damage and the presence of virus.