What cardiac condition may present with JVD and exercise intolerance following a recent upper respiratory infection?

Myocarditis is characterized by inflammation of the heart muscle, which can be triggered by infections, particularly viral upper respiratory infections. Following such infections, patients may experience symptoms such as jugular venous distention (JVD) and exercise intolerance due to reduced cardiac output and impaired heart function. The inflammation affects the myocardium, potentially leading to heart failure or arrhythmias, which explains the observed exercise intolerance as the heart struggles to meet the body's increased demands.

In the context of an upper respiratory infection, the timeline of symptom onset is significant; myocarditis can arise days to weeks after the initial viral illness. JVD indicates right heart congestion or dysfunction, which aligns with the pathophysiology of myocarditis where structural and functional changes in the heart may lead to fluid overload.

Other conditions listed, such as heart failure, pulmonary embolism, and pericarditis, could also present similarly but have different underlying mechanisms and causes. Heart failure may represent a consequence of myocarditis but is more of a descriptor than a diagnosis in this scenario. Pulmonary embolism typically presents acutely with different symptoms such as chest pain or shortness of breath rather than following an upper respiratory infection. Pericarditis is associated with chest pain and changes