Overview

Your healthcare provider will perform a physical exam and ask about your medical history, including any type of heart condition you may have. You should tell your provider if you’ve had any:

  • Heart attacks.
  • Heart surgeries.
  • Heart procedures.
  • Injuries to your chest area.

Your healthcare provider may order tests to rule out other conditions that have similar symptoms. They’ll make a diagnosis of Dressler’s syndrome based on the combination of:

  • Your symptoms.
  • The presence of a pericardial friction rub (a scratchy sound they hear with a stethoscope when your inflamed pericardial layers rub together).
  • Test results.

What tests will be done to diagnose Dressler’s syndrome?

If your provider thinks you may have Dressler’s syndrome, you’ll need to have further testing. These tests may include:

  • Blood tests. A complete blood count (CBC) and blood cultures can rule out an infection. Other blood tests look for elevated C-reactive protein levels or elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate — both of which would mean that you have inflammation.
  • Electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG). This test looks for abnormal electrical activity in your heart that suggests the presence of pericarditis.
  • Chest X-rays. X-rays can detect an increase in heart size (due to fluid buildup in your heart).
  • Echocardiogram. This test can detect the presence or absence of fluid around your heart (in your pericardium, the lining around your heart muscle), how much fluid, if any, and any potential adverse impact this fluid may be having on your heart muscle.
  • Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and CT scan. These imaging tests may be more useful in follow-up to check for thickening or excess fluid in your pericardium or compression of your heart from your thickened pericardium.

Your provider also may want to send a sample of your pericardial fluid to the lab.

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Symptoms

When to see a doctor

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Complications

Blood clots are a dangerous complication of atrial fibrillation (AFib). Blood clots can lead to stroke.
The risk of stroke from AFib increases as you grow older. Other health conditions also may increase the risk of a stroke due to AFib. These conditions include:
  • High blood pressure.
  • Diabetes.
  • Heart failure.
  • Some types of heart valve disease.
Blood thinners are commonly prescribed to prevent blood clots and strokes in people with atrial fibrillation.

Prevention

Healthy lifestyle choices can reduce the risk of heart disease and may prevent atrial fibrillation (AFib). Here are some basic heart-healthy tips:
  • Control high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes.
  • Don't smoke or use tobacco.
  • Eat a diet that's low in salt and saturated fat.
  • Exercise at least 30 minutes a day on most days of the week unless your health care team says not to.
  • Get good sleep. Adults should aim for 7 to 9 hours daily.
  • Maintain a healthy weight.
  • Reduce and manage stress.


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