My sister’s friend is in the hospital. She had a panic attack and her heart rate will not go down below 140. They’re keeping her tonight to run tests, and say that she could possibly have an infection around her heart. What could cause this? What can they do to fix it?
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any infection in the body can get in your blood and then travel to your heart. Gum disease can also put you at higher risk for this to happen, along with untreated strep throat. Hopefully, if she does have an infection in the heart, it will be a bacterial infection that is susceptible to antibiotics.
When they say "around the heart" they may not actually mean in the physical vacinity of the heart, mayhap they mispoke and meant "about the heart." Either way, there are plenty of issues that keep the heart rate up.
Panic Attacks are mostly psychosomatic, which means a mental issue could have created the physical symptom.
Hopefully she didn't take X, because that causes unstable and volitile heart rates.
Kidney/Renal issues can cause high blood pressure (that's what Mom has ad so she can't drink tea and very little coffee.)
Adrenal glands can go into hyperdrive (have had that happen to myself.)
Whatever it is they'll probably initially attempt to lower the heart rate via drugs. Then they'll attempt to ween her off whilst observing BPM's. This way they can stall for time. It takes time to do tests and check all the possibilties. They usually try to narrow their search by eliminating possibilities that don't match all her symptoms.
This may be touch and go for quite awhile. Make sure your friend has a cardiothoracic surgeon checking on her, don't trust a cardiologist -> cardiologists usually have limited knowledge and qualifications. (psychologist vs. psychiatrist)
Infections can start/ spread to many areas. An infection around the hear is called pericarditis or endocarditis, depending on what is effected. The infection can be anything from a full systemic infection, to TB, to cancer, to syphillis. If it's a true *infection*- antibiotics can cure it- if it's not wide spread, or resistent to the antibiotics they are giving her. They will usually start with either what is called a broad spectrum antibiotic, which covers many bacteria- or if they have a clue of what it is, they may start with something that usually targets this type of infection. In either instance, they will probably (or should) take a culture and see what the bacteria is that grows- in case she doesn't respond to the antibiotics being used.
Also, the seriousness of the infection and assoicated diseases will determine if she takes pills or an IV antibiotic.
Does your sisters friend have a heart condition? If not…then she may have one that has not been detected. Any patient with a heart condition is at risk for bacterial endocarditis, if they caught it in time they will treat it with antibiotics through an IV.
Good Luck and God Bless
endocarditis?
There are many causes but basically a bacteria sets up house in the tissues surrounding her heart, and it will need antibiotics and thorough nursing care to cure it.
lack of proper handwashing is the biggest cause of any infection. antibiotics can often treat the infection. your question is too vague to help.
There are a few infections that can infect the heart, I saw above endocarditis mentioned. There is also pericarditis. This is when the sack surrounding the heart becomes inflammed and irritated. It can be caused by several things, and I'm sure if this is what it is,they will run some tests to see.. If it is pericarditis, they treat her with steroids, and she'll be sent home. Let us know what they find out!