What Is A Thick Wall Around Heart?

Posted on Wed, 20 Aug 2014

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Wed, 20 Aug 2014 Answered on

Sat, 6 Sep 2014 Last reviewed on

Question : what is thick wall around heart

Answered by Dr. Vaddadi Suresh (37 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
pericardium.

Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXX
Welcome to HCM.
Heart is enclosed in a sac called pericardium. It acts like a tough wall, a closed chamber, contains fluid called pericardial fluid which helps the heart contract and move friction less, just like a baby can move in the womb filled with amniotic fluid.
Sometimes, this wall even gets diseased, called pericarditis; torn or inflammed causing problems like chest pain and breathlessness.
I hope this is what all you wanted to learn. please post if you have further queries.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Vaddadi Suresh (28 minutes later)

Is there a medicine or just wait for this chest pain or breathlessness

Answered by Dr. Vaddadi Suresh (14 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
medicine for what?

Detailed Answer:
If the pericardium is diseased, first the cause has to be treated.
For example, it may be inflammed in kidney disease, connective tissue diseases, some infections like tuberculosis etc. Correction of the primary cause usually resolves pericarditis and chest pain.
If pericardium is totally damaged, it may be stripped to relieve pain.
You do not need treatment unless one confirms that pericardium is diseased. There are no drugs for preventing this, there is treatment however.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar