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Pericarditis

Pericarditis is inflammation of the lining around the heart. The most common symptom of pericarditis is chest pain. Pericarditis can be uncomfortable but is not usually serious and most people recover within weeks. 

If you’ve been diagnosed with pericarditis or think you might have symptoms of pericarditis, it can feel worrying. But pericarditis is not usually a serious condition. On this page we’ll answer the most common questions people have about pericarditis, including:

Pericarditis symptoms, causes and treatments:

Living with pericarditis:

What is pericarditis?

Diagram showing the inflammation caused by pericarditis

Pericarditis is when your pericardium (the protective sac that surrounds your heart) is inflamed. Inflammation is your body’s way of fighting against things that could harm it, such as infections or injuries, so that it can heal itself. When your pericardium is inflamed it can cause symptoms that can affect your daily life.

Pericarditis can sometimes happen together with myocarditis (inflammation of the heart muscle) and they have similar symptoms. If you have both pericarditis and myocarditis, this is sometimes known as myopericarditis.

What are the symptoms of pericarditis?

Man experiencing chest pain - chest pain is the most common pericarditis symptom.

If you have pericarditis, the most common symptom is chest pain. This chest pain may:

  • feel sharp or stabbing (however some people have dull, pressure-like chest-pain)
  • be felt on the left-hand side of the chest or behind your breastbone
  • may spread to your shoulder and arms
  • get worse when coughing, swallowing, lying down (especially on your left side) or taking a deep breath
  • get better when leaning forward

Other pericarditis symptoms include:

  • having a high temperature
  • feeling hot and shivery
  • feeling sick
  • feeling light-headed
  • shortness of breath

Getting diagnosed and treated early can help you feel better and lower the risk of long-term complications from pericarditis, so speak to a doctor if you have these symptoms.

When to call 999

You should call 999 immediately, if:

  • Your chest pain makes your chest feel tight or heavy
  • Your chest pain lasts more than 15 minutes
  • Your pain spreads to the arms, back, neck and jaw
  • You also feel short of breath and/or feel sick

What causes pericarditis?

Pericarditis is most commonly caused by:

  • a virus, such as the flu or Covid-19, or another infection
  • inflammatory conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis

More rarely pericarditis can be caused by:

  • Injury to the chest, for example after a car accident, heart surgery, or heart attack
  • Another health problem, such as cancer, kidney failure, or an underactive thyroid
  • Certain medicines or vaccines

Read more about pericarditis and Covid-19 vaccines

Sometimes it isn’t possible to know the cause of pericarditis. This is known as idiopathic pericarditis. This can be frustrating and difficult. There is support available to help you manage your condition and your mental wellbeing – find out how we can help.

How to diagnose pericarditis?

Pericarditis can be hard to diagnose. Your GP will listen to your chest because pericarditis can change the sound it makes.

You may also have tests such as:

These tests are very common, don’t take long (sometimes just a few minutes), and most people don’t feel any pain or discomfort when having them.

What is the treatment for pericarditis?

How your pericarditis is treated will depend on what is causing it. Treatments for pericarditis may include:

  • painkillers 
  • anti-inflammatory medicine, such as colchicine
  • steroids (if colchicine doesn’t work)
  • antibiotics (if pericarditis is caused by a bacterial infection)
  • Rarely, if pericarditis symptoms continue and get worse, a pericardial window may be recommended. This is surgery which drains the inflamed lining surrounding the heart.

Your doctor will discuss treatments and explain which one is right for you. Some people find it useful to think about questions they’ll ask before an appointment and write these down on paper, or on their phone, so they don’t forget to discuss them with their doctor. Questions you might find helpful to ask your doctor include:

How to treat chest pain from pericarditis

Living with pericarditis chest pain can be difficult, but there are things you can do to help ease the pain and feel better. They include:

  • taking painkillers and anti-inflammatory pain medicine (chat to your doctor about this)
  • sitting up
  • leaning forward

Have a chat with your doctor about how to manage your pain and what to do if it’s not getting better.

If the pain suddenly gets worse and lasts more than 15 minutes, or you have any new symptoms, this could be a heart attack, so call 999 immediately.

How long does pericarditis last?

Most people recover from pericarditis within a few weeks, but for some it can take several months.

Dealing with ongoing pericarditis symptoms can be tough, but it is possible to live a normal life with the right support – find out more about what emotional support is available.

How to sleep with pericarditis

If you have pericarditis, you might find the pain or anxiety about the symptoms is making it harder for you to sleep at night. Some top tips to help you fall asleep and get back to sleep if you wake in the night include:

  • Find a position that is comfortable for you. Some people find sleeping in a more upright, sitting position more comfortable.
  • Take some pain relief before going to bed. Speak to your doctor about the best ways to manage your pain.
  • If anxious thoughts are making it harder to sleep, get tips for coping with anxiety.
  • Get more suggestions for simple changes you can make to sleep better.

Can I work with pericarditis?

Depending on how serious your pericarditis symptoms are and what kind of work you need to do, you may need to take time off work.

If you’re not well enough to go to work, or if work is holding up your recovery, you can get a “fit note” (Statement of Fitness to Work) from your GP, so chat to your GP about this.

It can feel difficult to talk to work about taking time off, or you may be worried about whether you’ll get sick pay.

Get answers to your questions about work and a heart condition, whether you’re employed, self-employed, or a temporary worker.

Find out about financial help you may be able to get from the government if you’re dealing with long-term ill health. You can also get free and impartial advice about managing your money from moneyhelper.org.uk and find out about benefits and other sources of financial support at turn2us.org.uk.

Can I exercise with pericarditis?

Pericarditis can affect anyone, even people who had good health beforehand. If you have pericarditis, your body needs time to rest and recover. Chat to your doctor about when and how you can return to exercise.

They can talk to you about the type of exercise that will be safe for you to do. It’s usually recommended that you avoid high-intensity exercise for at least three months, but there might be other activities you can do instead.

How to get support

Being diagnosed with pericarditis and living with pericarditis symptoms can feel overwhelming so we are here to help. To get support,

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Page last reviewed: July 2022
Next review due: July 2025

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