(HealthDay News) -- Pericarditis is a condition in which the pericardium, the membrane around the heart, becomes inflamed. This inflammation restricts the heart from pumping efficiently. Pericarditis occurs most commonly in men between the ages of 20 and 50.
Symptoms usually include a sharp, piercing pain in the center of the chest or near the heart, says the American Heart Association. The condition tends to cause pain when breathing.
Pericarditis can be triggered by a variety of conditions, including infection, heart attack, cancer, radiation therapy, surgery or an injury. Antibiotics are normally prescribed if the cause is a bacterial infection, and anti-inflammatory drugs may be taken to reduce pain and inflammation.
