Pericarditis Center - Waltham, MA
Waltham Cardiologist Doctors for PericarditisType 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 Waltham * Boston West Cardiology  Solomon Gabbay MD  Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center Cardiovascular  Gordon M Saperia MD  Newton-Wellesley Cardiologists PC  Newton-Wellesley Cardiologists PC  Newton-Wellesley Cardiologists PC  Newton-Wellesley Cardiologists PC  Newton-Wellesley Cardiologists PC  Newton-Wellesley Cardiologists PC  James W Todd MD  Newton-Wellesley Cardiologists PC  Benson Henry Institute  Women's Health Associates  Women's Health Associates  Larry Weinrauch MD  David W Khoury MD  St Elizabeth Medical Center Cardiology  St Elizabeth Medical Center Cardiology  St Elizabeth Medical Center Cardiology  St Elizabeth Medical Center Cardiology  St Elizabeth Medical Center Cardiology  St Elizabeth Medical Center Cardiology  St Elizabeth Medical Center Cardiology  St Elizabeth Medical Center Cardiology  St Elizabeth Medical Center Cardiology  St Elizabeth Medical Center Cardiology  St Elizabeth Medical Center Cardiology  David M DeSimone MD  Perminder Dhillon MD  West Suburban Cardiology  West Suburban Cardiology  Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center Cardiovascular  Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center Cardiovascular  Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center Cardiac Services  Eugene Vaninov MD  Mount Auburn Cardiology Associates  Marion P Hogan MD  Mount Auburn Cardiology Associates  Mount Auburn Cardiology Associates  Mount Auburn Cardiology Associates  Burton Rabinowitz MD  Mount Auburn Cardiology Associates  Mount Auburn Cardiology Associates  Lahey Clinic Arlington Internal Medicine  Lahey Clinic Arlington Internal Medicine  Lincoln Physicians Practice  Lahey Clinic Cardiology  Lahey Hospital Clinic Cardiology  Dedham Medical Associates  Lahey Clinic Cardiology  Lahey Clinic Cardiology  Lahey Hospital Clinic Cardiology  Lahey Clinic Cardiology  Lahey Clinic Cardiology  Dedham Medical Associates  Lahey Hospital Clinic Cardiology  Lahey Clinic Cardiology  Lahey Clinic Cardiology  Lahey Hospital Clinic Cardiology  Lahey Clinic Cardiology  Lahey Clinic Cardiology  Lahey Hospital Clinic Cardiology  Lahey Clinic Cardiology  Lahey Clinic Cardiology  Lahey Clinic Cardiology  VA Boston Healthcare System West Roxbury  VA Boston Healthcare System West Roxbury  VA Boston Healthcare System West Roxbury  Lown Cardiovascular Center  Lown Cardiovascular Center  Brigham & Women's Hospital Cardiology  Paul Radvany MD  Kenneth K Tucker MD  Parnag H Kasarjian MD  Cardiology Associates Greater Boston  Richard R Ress MD  Cardiology Associates Greater Boston  Cardiology Associates Greater Boston  Edith Norse Rogers V A Memorial / Bedford VA  Woburn Medical Associates  Edalji & Komer MDs  Medical Center of Boston  Kenneth Rice MD FACC  Boston Heart Group  Boston Heart Group  Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center Cardiology  Gary M Brockington MD  Central MA Cardiovascular Physicians Inc  Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center Cardiology  Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center Cardiology  Faulkner Hospital  Cardiovascular Health & Lipid Clinic  Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center Cardiology  Brigham Faulkner Cardiovascular  Brigham & Women's Hospital Cardiology  Brigham & Women's Hospital Cardiology  Elliott M Antman MD  Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center Cardiac Services  VA Boston Healthcare System Waltham, MassachusettsUpcoming Local Events2012-06-10
2012-06-10
2012-06-16
2012-07-03
2012-07-28
2012-08-19
2012-09-22
2012-09-30
2012-10-21
2012-11-11
PericarditisRead the Pericarditis article » 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
Mechanical injury to the heart
Infection Bacterial
Tumors or cancer
Connective Tissue Disease
Metabolic diseases
Medication Reactions
What are the symptoms of pericarditis?Chest pain is the most common symptom of pericarditis.
Recommended Reading Related to PericarditisWhat 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.
What causes atrial fibrillation?Normal function of the he... Other Related Pericarditis ArticlesEmergency Contact for Waltham
Nearby Waltham Hospitals *McLean Hospital Newton Wellesley Hospital Caritas St Elizabeth's Medical Center Franciscan Hospital for Children Kindred Hospital Boston Mount Auburn Hospital Arbour HRI Hospital Somerville Hospital Youville Hospital and Rehabilitation Center Cambridge Hospital Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital Needham HEALTHSOUTH New England Rehabilitation Hospital Bournewood Hospital Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center Brigham & Women's Hospital Dana Farber Cancer Institute Children's Hospital Boston Lawrence Memorial Hospital VA Boston Healthcare System Jamaica Plain Campus New England Baptist Hospital Arbour Hospital Faulkner Hospital Hebrew Rehabilitation Center for the Aged Lahey Clinic Medical Center VA Boston Healthcare System West Roxbury Campus M I T Medical Kindred Specialty Hospital Natick MetroWest Medical Center Leonard Morse Hospital Radius Specialty Hospital Boston Massachusetts Eye & Ear Infirmary Massachusetts General Hospital Winchester Hospital Emerson Hospital Lemuel Shattuck Hospital Shriners Hospitals for Children Boston Burn Hospital Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital Boston Medical Center Massachusetts Mental Health Center Edith Nourse Rogers Memorial Veterans Hospital Tufts New England Medical Center Whidden Memorial Hospital Melrose Wakefield Hospital Lawrence F Quigley Memorial Hospital Caritas Carney Hospital MetroWest Medical Center Framingham Union Hospital Westwood Lodge Hospital Milton Hospital Caritas Norwood Hospital Quincy Medical Center Massachusetts Hospital School North Shore Medical Center Tewksbury Hospital UMass Memorial Marlborough Hospital Braintree Rehabilitation Hospital New England Sinai Hospital & Rehabilitation Center Whittier Rehabilitation Hospital Westborough Kindred Hospital Boston North Shore Kindred Specialty Hospital Braintree Saints Medical Center Salem Hospital & the Birthplace North Shore Children's Hospital HC Solomon Mental Health Center Lowell General Hospital Shaughnessy-Kaplan Rehabilitation Hospital Isham Health Center Westborough State Hospital South Shore Hospital Kindred Specialty Hospital Stoughton Caritas Good Samaritan Medical Center Nashoba Valley Medical Center Beverly Hospital Milford Regional Medical Center Boston VA Healthcare System Brockton Lawrence General Hospital Signature Healthcare Brockton Hospital Featured Articles*Provider Directory Terms of Use: The WebMD 'Provider Directory' is provided by WebMD for use by the general public as a quick reference of information about Providers. The Provider Directory is not intended as a tool for verifying the credentials, qualifications, or abilities of any Provider contained therein. Inclusion in the Provider Directory does not imply recommendation or endorsement nor does omission in the Provider Directory imply WebMD disapproval. |
Suggested Reading on Pericarditis by Our Doctors
-
Related Diseases & Conditions
16 articles-
Angina
- Angina is chest pain that is due to an inadequate supply of oxygen to the heart muscle. Angina can be caused by coronary artery disease or spasm of the coronary arteries. EKG, exercise treadmill, stress echocardiography, stress thallium, and cardiac catheterization are important tests used in the diagnosis of angina.
-
Atrial Fibrillation
- Atrial fibrillation is an abnormality in the heart rhythm which involves irregular and often rapid beating of the heart.
-
Heart Attack
- Heart attack happens when a blood clot completely obstructs a coronary artery supplying blood to the heart muscle. A heart attack can cause chest pain, heart failure, and electrical instability of the heart.
-
Leukemia
- Leukemia is a type of cancer of the blood cells in which the growth and development of the blood cells are abnormal. Strictly speaking, leukemia should refer only to cancer of the white blood cells (the leukocytes) but in practice it can apply to malignancy of any cellular element in the blood or bone marrow, as in red cell leukemia (erythroleukemia).
-
Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease that causes chronic inflammation of the joints, the tissue around the joints, as well as other organs in the body. Because it can affect multiple other organs of the body, rheumatoid arthritis is referred to as a systemic illness and is sometimes called rheumatoid disease.
-
Scleroderma
- Scleroderma is an autoimmune disease of the connective tissue. It is characterized by the formation of scar tissue (fibrosis) in the skin and organs of the body, leading to thickness and firmness of involved areas. Scleroderma is also referred to as systemic sclerosis, and the cause is unknown. Treatment of scleroderma is directed toward the individual features that are most troubling to the patient.
-
Lupus
- Systemic lupus erythematosus is a condition characterized by chronic inflammation of body tissues caused by autoimmune disease. Lupus can cause disease of the skin, heart, lungs, kidneys, joints, and nervous system. When only the skin is involved, the condition is called discoid lupus. When internal organs are involved, the condition is called systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).
-
Hypothyroidism
- Hypothyroidism is any state in which thyroid hormone production is below normal. Normally, the rate of thyroid hormone production is controlled by the brain at the pituitary. Hypothyroidism is a very common condition and the symptoms of hypothyroidism are often subtle.
-
Low Blood Pressure
- Low blood pressure, also referred to as hypotension, is blood pressure that is so low that it causes symptoms or signs due to the low flow of blood through the arteries and veins. Some of the symptoms of low blood pressure include light-headedness, dizziness, or even fainting if not enough blood is getting to the brain. Diseases and medications can also cause low blood pressure. When the flow of blood is too low to deliver enough oxygen and nutrients to vital organs such as the brain, heart, and kidneys; the organs do not function normally and may be permanently damaged.
-
Coxsackie Virus
- Coxsackie viruses may be divided into two groups. Type A causes hand, foot, and mouth disease and conjunctivitis, while type B causes pleurodynia. Both types sometimes cause meningitis, myocarditis, and pericarditis. There is no specific treatment for this disease.
-
Sarcoidosis
- Sarcoidosis, a disease resulting from chronic inflammation, causes small lumps (granulomas) to develop in a great range of body tissues and can appear in almost any body organ. However, sarcoidosis most often starts in the lungs or lymph nodes.
-
Kawasaki Disease
- Kawasaki disease is a rare children's disease characterized by a fever that lasts more than five days and at least four of the following five symptoms are present: rash, swollen neck lymph gland, red tongue, swelling or redness of the hands or feet, and conjunctivitis. High doses of aspirin are used to treat Kawasaki disease. Cortisone and antiinflammatory drugs may also be used during treatment.
-
Relapsing Polychondritis
- Relapsing polychondritis is an uncommon, chronic disorder of the cartilage that is characterized by recurrent episodes of inflammation of the cartilage of various tissues of the body. Tissues containing cartilage that can become inflamed include the ears, nose, joints, spine, and windpipe (trachea). Tissues that have a biochemical makeup similar to that of cartilage such as the eyes, heart, and blood vessels, can also be affected. Nonsteroidal antiinflammatory medications (NSAIDs) is used as treatment for mild cases of the disease. Steroid-related medications also are usually required.
-
Kidney Failure
- Kidney failure can occur from an acute event or a chronic condition or disease. Prerenal kidney failure is caused by blood loss, dehydration, medication. Some of the renal causes of kidney failure are from sepsis, medications, rhabdomyolysis, multiple myeloma, and acute glomerulonephritis. Post renal causes of kidney failure include bladder obstruction, prostate problems, tumors, or kidney stones. Treatment options included diet, medications, or dialysis.
-
Chest Pain
- Chest pain is a common complaint by a patient in the ER. Causes of chest pain include broken or bruised ribs, pleurisy, pneumothorax, shingles, pneumonia, pulmonary embolism, angina, heart attack, costochondritis, pericarditis, aorta or aortic dissection, and reflux esophagitis. Diagnosis and treatment of chest pain depends upon the cause and clinical presentation of the patient's chest pain.
-
Upper Respiratory Tract Infection
- An upper respiratory infection is a contagious infection of the structures of the upper respiratory tract, which includes the sinuses, nasal passages, pharynx, and larynx. Common causes of an upper respiratory infection include bacteria and viruses such as rhinoviruses, group A streptococci, influenza, respiratory syncytial, whooping cough, diphtheria, and Epstein-Barre. Examples of symptoms of upper respiratory infection include sneezing, sore throat, cough, fever, and nasal congestion. Treatment of upper respiratory infection are generally with OTC medication and home remedies.
-
Angina
-
Medications
11 articles -
Procedures & Tests
5 articles -
Pictures, Images & Quizzes
2 articles -
Doctor's & Expert's Views
2 articles -
Health News
0 articles -
Health Features
0 articles
