Contemporary Examples. 1  Biden is such a straight shooter that pundits say he needs a muzzle. 2  Suddenly, the darkness came alive with muzzle flashes and tracer rounds. 3  The result of the back-and-forth was guaranteed national publicity for the very ideas the politicians wanted to muzzle.
Early symptoms of fluid around the heart include feeling out of breath, even when lying down. Breathing often becomes easier when you sit up or lean forward. Other signs include feeling lightheaded or dizzy, chest pain that is sharp and stabbing, chest tightness and a dry, chronic cough.
Fluid in the pericardial sac can impair cardiac filling, leading to low cardiac output and sometimes shock and death. If fluid accumulates slowly (eg, due to chronic inflammation), the pericardium can stretch to accommodate up to 1 to 1.5 L of fluid before cardiac output is compromised. However, with rapid fluid accumulation, as occurs with traumatic hemorrhage, as little as 150 mL may cause tamponade.