Symptom 6. Palpitations: The Flutter Within
Palpitations might sound like something straight out of a romance novel, but in the medical world, they’re far from a fairytale. If you’ve ever felt like your heart was fluttering, racing, or even skipping beats, you’ve experienced palpitations. This sensation can be unsettling, if not downright scary, especially if it’s a new experience for you.
In the context of pericarditis, palpitations are more than just a symptom; they’re a sign that the heart might not be functioning as well as it should be. When the pericardium—the sac that surrounds your heart—is inflamed, it can disrupt the normal rhythm of the heart, causing it to beat faster or irregularly.
Understanding the nature of palpitations is crucial in demystifying this symptom. Your heart is essentially a well-organized machine, and each beat follows a certain rhythm. But when something like pericarditis interferes with this rhythm, it can feel like your heart is dancing to its own beat.
It’s also important to understand that palpitations can be associated with a range of health conditions, not just pericarditis. So while experiencing palpitations is a good reason to consult a healthcare professional, it doesn’t automatically mean that you have pericarditis.
If you experience palpitations along with other symptoms on this list, it’s particularly crucial to bring this up with your healthcare provider. It might be an indication that pericarditis is at play, and your doctor can help devise a plan to manage this condition effectively. (6)
