Ask the doctor: What causes fluid to build up around the heart and what can be done to treat it?

Ask the doctor

What causes fluid to build up around the heart and what can be done to treat it?

Published: March, 2006

Q. My brother-in-law was told that he has some fluid around his heart. What does that mean, and how is it treated?

A. The heart is surrounded by a thin, two-layer sac called the pericardium. It looks a bit like a cellophane bag. The pericardium protects the heart, limits its motion, and prevents it from expanding too much when blood volume increases.

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