Pericarditits After a Heart Attack

What are the signs and symptoms of the condition?

Symptoms usually appear a few hours to a week after a heart attack. However, in some cases, the symptoms do not occur until several weeks or even months later. The most common symptom is chest pain. Often, the pain is mild. Many people only have chest pain when asked to inhale deeply. Others may have pain when they move or change body positions. Joint pains and mild fever may also occur.

The healthcare provider with a stethoscope can sometimes hear a sound called a friction rub when this condition occurs. This scratchy sound is made when the surface of the heart and the inflamed heart lining rub together.