Other cardiac problems

The most common problems that cardiac patients present with are related to coronary heart disease (CHD) and valvular disorders. However, there are various infections and malignancies that can affect the heart and this chapter outlines the main disorders that can affect the pericardium and myocardium that are not covered elsewhere in the book. This chapter covers pericardial disease (including pericardial effusion and acute and constrictive pericarditis), myocarditis, cardiac cancers, athlete’s heart, and heart disease in pregnancy.