The myocardium is the thickest and middle part of the heart wall. It is commonly known as the heart’s muscles and comprises cardiomyocytes, cardiac muscle cells, and fibroblasts. This muscle mass is responsible for pumping blood and distributing nutrients and oxygen in the body. It contracts and releases involuntarily, leading to the natural process of the heart, which is to pump blood.
When the myocardium is inflamed, it struggles to contract and release, leading to the heart’s malfunction. This condition is known as myocarditis. Unfortunately, myocarditis is challenging to detect for most people affected to it doesn’t manifest symptoms. But if a person has symptoms, this may include shortness of breath, abnormal heartbeat, light-headedness, fatigue, and a sharp stabbing sensation around the chest. When left untreated, myocardium may lead to infection. Some patients experience fever, sore throat, muscle aches, diarrhea, painful joints, swollen joints, decreased urine, and diarrhea. Most of the time, people recover from myocarditis without knowing they have it.
Causes of myocarditis are not usually found, for it’s a disease that is difficult to detect. But potential causes have been determined, including viruses, bacteria, parasites, fungi, certain medications, and inflammation.
This article tackles some of the effective treatments for myocarditis.
Corticosteroids
Corticosteroids are drugs that include cortisone, hydrocortisone, and prednisone which are effective treatments for inflammation. The adrenal glands naturally produce this hormone, but through technology, mankind was able to make corticosteroids. Unfortunately, corticosteroids are steroids with possible side effects such as increased appetite, thin skin that easily bruises, mood swings, diabetes, and osteoporosis. These complications are why corticosteroids are prescribed only if the benefits outweigh the risks.
Corticosteroids are beneficial in treating myocarditis due to their abilities to lessen the intensity of the inflammation and dampening of the immune response, which leads to lower levels of inflammation. Finally, they can also lessen cardiac functions, which is beneficial in the complete healing of the myocardium.
Corticosteroids are effective in fighting myocarditis caused by a virus. They defy the viral infection indirectly by inhibiting inflammation which suppresses immunity. As a result, the immune system will soon combat the virus.
