Months after a heart attack, some patients develop chest pain, caused by inflammation of the pericardium. The pericardium is the thin membrane that surrounds the heart. This condition is called Dressler's syndrome, or post-myocardial infarction syndrome.

Dressler's syndrome usually causes brief episodes of sharp chest pain that become worse during a deep breath. Dressler's syndrome is not a serious condition: it usually resolves slowly.

The treatment for Dressler's syndrome includes:

• Acetaminophen for pain
• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications for pain:
• Ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil)
• Naproxen (Anaprox, Naprosyn, Aleve)
• Ketoprofen (Orudis)
• Narcotic pain medication