When excess fluid collects around your heart, you are said to have a pericardial effusion. Causes for this dangerous condition can vary, but it usually starts due to inflammation in the lining that surrounds the heart (called the pericardium).
The pericardium has two layers between which there is typically a small amount of fluid. When the tissue becomes inflamed--which may happen from an injury or from a disease such as mesothelioma lung cancer--the fluid starts to build up. You can also experience a pericardial effusion when blood accumulates between those layers after surgery or an injury. And you may also find other causes for pericardial effusion that don't involve inflammation.
The danger that pericardial effusion causes is pressure on your heart, which increases as the amount of fluid stretches the lining. Your heart may not be able to function correctly and the condition may, if you don't get proper treatment, result in heart failure or death.Pericardial effusion is one of the causes of suffering among those with mesothelioma. Symptoms may include difficult or painful breathing, chest pain, coughing, fever, heart rate increase, and fainting. It may also be one of the causes if you are experiencing cachexia--the clinical name for muscle wasting, loss of appetite, and weakness.
If you are undergoing lung cancer treatment, make sure your physician knows about the connection between asbestos expsoure and mesothelioma. It's critical to get a correct diagnosis so that your treatment regimen will be right for you. Read more about mesothelioma treatment by browsing our website www.mesothelioma-advice.org.
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