Mayo Clinic Minute: What is pericarditis?

Pericarditis is a challenging illness that's often mistaken for a heart attack or other organ disease. In this Mayo Clinic Minute, Dr. Leslie Cooper Jr., a Mayo Clinic cardiologist, explains what pericarditis is and how it's treated.

When the irritated layers of pericardium rub together, it can cause sharp chest pain, a symptom that can often be mistaken for a heart attack, which can make it difficult to diagnose.

Other less common causes include chronic health conditions, such as kidney failure, cancer, prior radiation and atypical infections.
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