You should avoid heavy exercise for a few weeks until your pericarditis has resolved and your heart has returned to normal. This can assist to lower your chances of having low blood pressure and irregular heart rhythms. If you participate in a lot of sports, you may need to restrict your activity for at least three months. Pericarditis is usually caused by some type of infection. The most common infections that cause pericarditis include tuberculosis, viral illnesses such as the flu or herpes, and certain medications. In some cases, no cause can be found even after testing. The most common symptoms of pericarditis are pain over the chest area, feeling like something is blocking your heart, shortness of breath, dizziness, fatigue, and loss of appetite. Some people also have fever, chills, cough, sore throat, and body aches. Your doctor will perform tests to determine the cause of your pericarditis and find out if it is going to resolve on its own or if further treatment is needed. These tests may include: blood tests, electrocardiogram (ECG), echocardiogram (ECHO). A blood test called a sedimentation rate can be used to see how much blood cells stick to the bottom of a glass tube when they roll through the bloodstream. High levels may indicate an underlying problem such as pericarditis or heart disease.