Pericardial Tamponade: This is also referred to as cardiac tamponade and is the heart compression that develops when fluid or blood develops in the space that is sandwiched in between the outer covering sac of the heart and the heart muscle.

With this condition, fluid or blood collects in the pericardium. This stops the ventricles from being able to fully expand. The pressure from the fluid stops the heart from normal functioning.

Pericardial or cardiac tamponade may occur because of: dissecting aortic aneurysm or thoracic, heart attack or acute MI; end-stage lung cancer; surgery of the heart; wounds to the heart; as well as pericarditis triggered by viral or bacterial infections.

Other potential causes can include: heart tumors; hypothyroidism; failure to the kidney; central lines placement; radiation to the chest; invasive heart procedures; open heart surgery; as well as systemic lupus erythematosus.

Cardiac tamponade happens in roughly 2 of every 10,000 individuals.

Symptoms can include: restlessness, anxiety, pains in the chest that radiate to the shoulder, neck, abdomen or back, sharp stabbing pain that worsens by deep breathing or coughing, problems breathing, discomfort that is relieved when sitting up or forward leaning. Light-headedness or fainting, skin that is gray blue or pale, rapid breathing, palpitations, abdomen swelling or other places.

Other symptoms can develop with this illness and they include: dizziness, drowsiness, low blood pressure, as well as absent or weak pulse.