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Pericarditis Center - Missoula, MT

Missoula Cardiologist Doctors for Pericarditis

Type of Physician: Cardiologist

What is a Cardiologist?

A subspecialty certification by the Board of Internal Medicine; practitioners are expert in diseases of the heart, lungs and blood vessels. They consult with surgeons on heart surgery, perform diagnostic procedures, and manage complex conditions such as heart attacks and arrhythmias (abnormal heartbeat).

Specialty: Cardiology

Common Name: Heart Doctor

Cardiologist Doctors in Missoula *

Cardiopulmonary Associates
Philip A Roper
601 W Spruce St
STE A
Missoula, MT 59802
(406) 329-2945

The Montana Heart Center
George T Bandow
2809 Great Northern Loop
STE 200
Missoula, MT 59808
(406) 541-7000

The Montana Heart Center
William L Hull
2809 Great Northern Loop
STE 200
Missoula, MT 59808
(406) 541-7000

The Montana Heart Center
Newton B Coutinho
2827 Fort Missoula Rd
Missoula, MT 59804
(406) 327-4670

The Montana Heart Center
Patricia A Kelly
2827 Fort Missoula Rd
Missoula, MT 59804
(406) 327-4670

Rocky Mountain Heart & Lung
William T Highfill
350 Heritage Way
STE 2100
Kalispell, MT 59901
(406) 257-8992

Missoula, Montana

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Pericarditis

What is pericarditis?

The hearts sits in the center of the chest and is surrounded by a sac called the pericardium. This sac has two layers, one that fits tightly onto the heart muscle and another looser layer surrounding the inner layer. Inflammation of these tissue layers surrounding the heart is referred to as pericarditis.

What causes pericarditis?

There are many causes of pericarditis. Most often the cause is unknown. Causes of pericarditis are listed below:

Idiopathic

  • The cause of the illness is not identified (although often it's the result of a minor viral illness or "cold")

Mechanical injury to the heart

  • Heart attack (myocardial infarction) and Dressler's syndrome
  • Heart surgery and post pericardiotomy syndrome
  • Trauma

Infection Bacterial

  • Viral
  • Fungal
  • HIV

Tumors or cancer

  • Primary (rare)
  • Metastatic

Connective Tissue Disease

  • Rheumatoid arthritis
  • Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE)
  • Sarcoidosis
  • Scleroderma

Metabolic diseases

  • Uremia (kidney failure)
  • Hypothyroidism

Medication Reactions

  • Side effects of certain medications can cause an immune response causing an inflammation of the pericardial sac and pericarditis. Medicines that have been implicated include phenytoin (Dilantin), hydralazine (Apresoline) and procainamide (Pronestyl, Procan-SR, Procanbid).

What are the symptoms of pericarditis?

Chest pain is the most common symptom of pericarditis.

  • The pain is usually sharp and stabbing.
  • It can arise slowly or sudden...

Recommended Reading Related to Pericarditis

Atrial Fibrillation »

What is atrial fibrillation?

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common, abnormal rhythm of the heart.

The heart contracts (beats) and pumps blood with a regular rhythm, for example, at a rate of 60 beats per minute there is a beat every second. The heart may beat faster or slower with a shorter or longer interval between beats, but at any one rate the interval between beats is constant. This regular rhythm occurs as a result of regular electrical discharges (currents) that travel through the heart and cause the muscle of the heart to contract. In atrial fibrillation, the electrical discharges are irregular and rapid and, as a result, the heart beats irregularly and, usually, rapidly.

Atrial fibrillation is common; half a million new cases are diagnosed yearly in the U.S., and billions of dollars are spent annually on its diagnosis and treatment.

What causes atrial fibrillation?

Normal function of the he...

Emergency Contact for Missoula

  • In case of Emergency, call 911

Nearby Missoula Hospitals *

St Patrick Hospital
500 W Broadway
Missoula, MT 59802
(406)543-7271

Community Medical Center
2827 Fort Missoula Rd
Missoula, MT 59804
(406)728-4100

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