Mayo Clinic Minute: What is myocarditis?

Myocarditis is a serious but rare heart condition that impacts 10 to 20 out of every 100,000 Americans. For comparison, coronary artery disease, which is the most common heart disease in the U.S., affects 100 out of every 100,00 people. In this Mayo Clinic Minute, Dr. Leslie Cooper, a Mayo Clinic cardiologist, explains what myocarditis is and why knowing the risk factors is so important.

Dr. Leslie Cooper, a Mayo Clinic cardiologist, says the most common symptom of myocarditis is chest pain.

Often myocarditis improves on its own with or without treatment. The treatment focuses on the cause and symptoms, such as heart failure.

Because testosterone is a driver of inflammation, which can make a viral infection more severe, young men tend to be more affected.

Dr. Cooper says awareness of myocarditis symptoms and risk factors is important.
____________________________________________