Cardiac tamponade refers to an excessive fluid buildup in the pericardium that prevents the heart from properly functioning. The heart's chambers cannot fully expand to fill with blood, which may result in tachycardia and a drop in blood pressure. Symptoms include chest pain, breathing difficulties, fatigue, abdominal and leg swelling, fainting, blue or gray skin, heart palpitations, and changes in affect or behavior. If left untreated, cardiac tamponade can cause death.

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Pericardial effusion refers to excessive fluid buildup in the pericardium which surrounds the heart. This may apply pressure to the heart and impair its function. Symptoms include shortness of breath or pain when breathing, chest pain and fullness, dizziness and lightheadedness, and abdominal or leg swelling. Without treatment, pericardial effusion can lead to cardiac tamponade, heart failure, and death. 

Pericardial Effusion

Mitral valve prolapse--also known as billowing mitral valve syndrome, Barlow syndrome, floppy valve syndrome, myxomatous mitral valve disease, and click-murmur syndrome--refers to a condition in which the leaflets of the heart's mitral valve are not stiff enough, prolapsing during heart contractions. This sometimes causes mitral valve regurgitation where blood flows backwards into the left atrium from the left ventricle. Though usually manageable without treatment, it can sometimes cause lightheadedness, arrhythmias, breathing difficulties, and fatigue.

Mitral Valve Prolapse

Cardiac Tamponade. (2023, April 28). Cleveland Clinic. Retrieved January 22, 2024, from https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/21906-cardiac-tamponade

Cardiac Tamponade

An arrhythmia refers to an irregularity in the heartbeat, either due to excessive slowness, excessive quickness, or disorganized beating. Though sometimes harmless and natural, they may also cause issues or even be fatal. Symptoms may include chest palpitations, heart rate changes, chest pain, difficult or discomfort while breathing, anxiety, sweating, fatigue, and unconsciousness.

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