What symptom is most prominently caused by pericarditis?

Pericarditis is characterized by inflammation of the pericardium, the membrane surrounding the heart. One of the most prominent symptoms of this condition is severe pain that is typically experienced behind and above the sternum. This pain often radiates to other areas, such as the shoulder or neck, and can be sharp or pleuritic (worsening with breathing or coughing).

This specific location of the pain is distinct because it is closely associated with the heart and the surrounding structures, allowing it to be a key indicator of pericarditis. Since the pain has a relationship with the pericardium – which is affected in this condition – it serves as a primary symptom for diagnosis.