What Is the Most Common Cause of Myocarditis?

By John Nassivera

The heart is subject to a variety of problems that make it hard to maintain health, among them being myocarditis. This disease involves the myocardium, the muscular layer of the heart wall, experiencing inflammation and not being able to contract or relax properly. As a result, blood has trouble reaching the rest of the body, increasing your chance of a heart attack or stroke.

There is a variety of sources for this disease making its way into your body, and this guide aims to let you know if you might have this disease and the best way to treat it. Here are the most common causes of myocarditis.

Viral Infection

The most likely cause of myocarditis is a viral infection. The cells that your body produce to fight viruses play a role in your chances of falling ill because of the chemical they make to kill the virus. Some of these cells may enter your heart and inflame the heart muscle with their chemicals, doing the exact opposite of their intention.

You can get your hands on high quality medical reviews to see the variety of viruses that can lead to this condition. Some of the more popular ones include HIV/AIDS, Herpes, Hepatitus C, Chlamydia and Parvovirus. Figuring out which virus you contracted will help you find out which treatment is necessary for both the virus and your myocarditis. Whether or not the treatment for both will be the same will determine how much you’ll spend on it.

Bacteria

A similar cause of this disease is bacteria, which can come in several forms. The two most popular bacteria that are linked to myocarditis are Staphylococcus aureus and Corynebacterium diphtheriae, the former of which creates impectigo while the later causes diphtheria, an infection that harms throat cells and tonsils. Corynebacterium diphtheriae is also responsible for the bacteria that comes from ticks and leads to Lyme disease.

Looking for an organization that raises myocarditis awareness to find the best options for treating these bacteria. Other bacteria that can lead to myocarditis include Mycoplasma, which affects your lungs, and a Streptococcal infection, which affects your throat. A variety of medications are designed for these specific bacteria, so your doctor should direct you to someone with experience in this area if they aren’t.

Fungi

Fungi has also been found to be a common source of contracting myocarditis. Forms that fungi usually takes related to this disease include yeast infections, which is often linked to inflammation, and molds such as aspergillus, which are often found in the air. Histoplasma, which is often found in bird droppings and creates problems for the lungs. It’s easier for fungi to affect you if you already have a weak immune system.

In addition to there being treatments designed specifically for fungi, it is important for you to get plenty of rest so that your body can fight off the disease. Myocarditis is able to improve on its own most of the time, even without treatment. If you don’t have a strong immune system, then avoid being active and rest so that you can recover quickly.

Parasites

Parasites are also known for inflicting this disease upon people, and since they survive by living off of other creatures, you could be dealing with them for either short or longer than the other causes. The most common forms being Trypanosoma cruzi and toxoplasma. These parasites are usually transferred by insects and can lead to Chagas disease.

Those living in the United States won’t have to worry too much about contracting Chagas disease because it is more common in Central and South America. However, if you have or plan on traveling there, you’ll want to meet with your doctor to receive the right medication or prepare your body to keep these parasites away.

Autoimmune Diseases

The inflammation that myocarditis causes is also linked to autoimmune diseases, which make it harder for your immune system to do its job. For this particular disease, you’ll have to worry about SLE, which causes inflammation by attacking its tissues, and rheumatoid arthritis, which causes pain and swelling in the wrists and small joints in your hands and feet.

Other parts of the body that are affected by these autoimmune diseases include the brain, lungs, skin, kidneys and blood vessels. You should make sure that whatever medication your doctor gives targets the particular organs that are affected if it’s only one or two of these, or all of them if it’s a handful.

Keep these causes in mind so that you can avoid myocarditis and keep your heart healthy.