10 Pericarditis Symptoms
10. Fatigue and Orthopnea
Fatigue is a sudden or gradual feeling of tiredness. If it is severe, progressive, prolonged, or occurs without reason, it indicates underlying illness. Orthopnea occurs when there is shortness of breath (dyspnea) when the individual is lying flat, resulting in the person having to sleep sitting in a chair or propped up with pillows in bed.
This is generally characteristic of heart failure, abdominal obesity, or pulmonary disease. In constrictive pericarditis, the symptoms are often similar to those of right-side congestive heart failure (CHF). In constrictive pericarditis, fatigue and orthopnea are common. Like CHF, other associated symptoms often seen are lower limb edema and abdominal swelling. Other symptoms include nausea, vomiting, and dyspnea.
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