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Symptoms
By Mayo Clinic staffPericardial effusion symptoms may include:
- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing (dyspnea)
- Shortness of breath when lying down (orthopnea)
- Chest pain, usually behind the breastbone or on the left side of the chest that often feels worse when you breathe and feels better when you are sitting up, rather than lying down
- Cough
- Painful breathing, especially when inhaling or lying down
- Fainting or dizziness
- Low-grade fever
- Rapid heart rate
- A feeling of anxiety
You can have significant pericardial effusion and experience no signs or symptoms, particularly if the fluid has increased slowly.
When to see a doctor
Call 911 or your local emergency number if you feel chest pain that lasts more than a few minutes, if your breathing is difficult or painful, or if you have an unexplained fainting spell. If you experience shortness of breath, fatigue or other symptoms of pericardial effusion, see your doctor.
References
- Khandaker MH, et al. Pericardial disease: Diagnosis and management. Mayo Clinic Proceedings. 2010;85:572.
- Corey GR. Diagnosis and treatment of pericardial effusion. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Sept. 29, 2010.
- Martin M, et al. Pericardial disease. In: Libby P, et al. Braunwald's Heart Disease: A Textbook of Cardiovascular Medicine. 8th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2008. http://www.mdconsult.com/books/page.do?eid=4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-4106-1..50073-X--cesec24&isbn=978-1-4160-4106-1&sid=1060858465&type=bookPage§ionEid=4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-4106-1..50073-X--cesec24&uniqId=220541604-3#4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-4106-1..50073-X--cesec24. Accessed Sept. 29, 2010.
- Cardiopulmonary syndromes (PDQ). National Cancer Institute. http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/supportivecare/cardiopulmonary/healthprofessional. Accessed Oct. 1, 2010.
- Little WC, et al. Pericardial disease. Circulation. 2006;113:1622.
- Imazio M, et al. Diagnosis and management of pericardial diseases. Nature Reviews: Cardiology. 2009;6:743.
- Anderson CF (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Oct. 1, 2010.
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