Which of the following best describes pericarditis?

• A. Inflammation of the sac surrounding the heart, often causing severe chest pain
• B. Inflammation of the heart muscle
• C. A blockage of a coronary artery
• D. Fluid in the lungs

Answer: (A)

Pericarditis is inflammation of the pericardial sac surrounding the heart. This causes chest pain that is often sharp or stabbing and felt behind the sternum, typically worsened by deep breaths and lying flat, and often relieved by sitting up and leaning forward. A physical exam may reveal a pericardial friction rub, and the ECG can show characteristic changes. The other options describe different conditions: inflammation of the heart muscle is myocarditis, a blocked coronary artery leads to a heart attack, and fluid in the lungs points to pulmonary edema or other lung/issues, not inflammation of the heart’s surrounding sac. So the description of inflammation of the sac around the heart with severe chest pain best fits pericarditis.