Chronic Fatigue And Heart Problems

Fatigue Is Associated With Diminished Cardiovascular Response To Anticipatory Stress In Patients With Coronary Artery Disease

• 1Laboratory of Behavioral Medicine, Neuroscience Institute, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Palanga, Lithuania
• 2School of Psychology, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland
• 3Department of Clinical Psychology, Leiden University, Leiden, Netherlands

Background: Fatigue and psychophysiological reactions to mental stress are known to be problematic in coronary artery disease patients. Currently, studies exploring the relationship between fatigue and cardiovascular reactivity to stress are scarce and inconsistent. The current study aimed to investigate the links between cardiovascular response to mental stress and fatigue in CAD patients after acute coronary syndrome .

Methods: The cross-sectional study investigated 142 CAD patients within 23 weeks after recent myocardial infarction or unstable angina pectoris. Fatigue symptoms were measured using Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory 20-items, while cardiovascular reactivity to stress was evaluated during Trier Social Stress Test . In addition, participants completed psychometric measures, including the Hospital Anxiety and Depression scale and the Type D Scale-14. Multivariable linear regression analyses were completed to evaluate associations between fatigue and cardiovascular response to TSST, while controlling for confounders.

Dont Miss: Is Fatigue A Symptom Of High Blood Pressure

Heart Disease Warning Signs

Heart symptoms may not always be explicit so do not ignore any potential cardiac warning signs. What are the warning signs of heart disease? Some warning signs not to ignore include: shortness of breath, heartburn, muscle soreness, painful hiccups, neck or upper back pain, or other symptoms discussed in this slide show. People with known heart disease or significant risk factors such as people over age 65, strong family history of heart disease, obesity, smokers, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, or diabetes should pay extra attention to any possible cardiac symptoms.

Read Also: 18×30 Anti Fatigue Kitchen Mat

Fatigue Shortness Of Breath Swelling

These symptoms can result from heart and blood vessel problems. In particular, there is a possibility of heart failure that cannot supply enough blood to the whole body due to the deterioration of the heart function. Heart failure is a name that refers to a condition rather than a disease name, and there are various causes such as ischemic heart disease, valvular heart disease, and arrhythmia. In addition to these causes, other factors such as high blood pressure, infections, and anemia can be the trigger.In addition to heart failure, similar symptoms may occur due to decreased renal function or abnormal thyroid function, so differentiation by examination is required.

You May Like: Signs Of Dizziness And Fatigue

Also Check: Dizzy Shortness Of Breath Fatigue

Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index

The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index is a 19-item self-administrated questionnaire commonly used to assess sleep disturbances over a 1-month interval. Scores are acquired on each of seven domains of sleep quality: subjective sleep quality, sleep latency, sleep duration, habitual sleep efficiency, sleep disturbances, use of sleeping medication, and daytime dysfunction. Each domain is scored from 0 to 3 . The overall PSQI score ranges from 0 to 21 points, with scores of 5 indicating poorer sleep quality .

Types Of Heart Abnormalities

One study published in the journal Fatigue in 2016 reported a mean age of 58.8 years for deaths related to heart failure in people with ME/CFS. That’s about 25 years younger than the mean age of cardiac-related death overall. While no one can know for sure which factors may have contributed to this result, some studies suggest that ME/CFS could be linked to insufficient heart function.

Heart irregularities noted in ME/CFS, include:

• Abnormally low blood volume
• Diminished nocturnal heart rate variability
• A small left ventricle
• Orthostatic intolerance
• Short QT interval

These irregularities may, in fact, explain some of the key symptoms of ME/CFS. They also suggest that people living with ME/CFS may need to work harder than others to maintain good heart health.

Also Check: Stage 4 Lung Cancer Extreme Fatigue

Top Warning Signs That You May Have Heart Problems

Does heart disease run in your family? Do you have a history of eating unhealthy foods and exercising only intermittently? Are you worried that you might be at risk for experiencing heart problems? If you answered yes to any of these questions, then continue reading to discover the warning signs of heart problems so that you can stop problems where they start or even before they begin. If you are ready to change some unhealthy habits now in the service of helping your heart be the healthiest it can be, then lets get started with learning about these major warning signs.

Read Also: Is There A Test For Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

How Does Me/cfs Affect People

ME/CFS affects different people in different ways, some more severely than others. There are four levels of severity of ME/CFS, which give an indication of the level of disability ME/CFS can create:

• mild: 50% reduction in pre-illness activity
• moderate: mostly housebound
• severe: mostly bedridden
• very severe: totally bedridden and need help with basic activities including nutrition and hydration.

The severity of ME/CFS can vary over time. A person living with ME/CFS could be at one level of severity now, then their disease could either improve or deteriorate over time. For some patients, their disease can worsen significantly with no known cause. Other patients have a fluctuating illness where they have better and worse periods, which last for months or years. It is unclear why this happens.

For most people, ME/CFS is a lifelong disease. Full recovery is rare and estimated at less than 10%. For some people with ME/CFS, as time passes and their disease improves, they will find they can do more, but it is a slow and gradual process. However, this is not the case for everyone. Some people find their disease worsens over time, others may remain somewhat stable. With support and pacing, people can often improve their quality of life.

Recommended Reading: How To Deal With Compassion Fatigue

Diagnostic Tests To Determine Heart Attack Risk

If there is a worry that the heart is involved, you may undergo a screening test known as an electrocardiogram, or EKG. This recording of the hearts electrical activity can give information regarding not only heart rhythm problems but also heart artery disease and abnormalities in the heart chambers.

An abnormal EKG can mean many things, and not all of them are negative. Some people have a variation in their heart rhythm thats normal for them this will not affect their health now or in the future. But it can also indicate something more serious, like medication side effects, that your heart is beating too fast or slow, arrhythmia , and yes, sometimes a heart attack. If your provider believes there is a concern, youll know.

If an EKG is normal but your doctor still suspects a heart problem, he or she may order a stress test, which detects your hearts rhythm using electrodes taped to your chest while you exercise . This can help determine your risk of heart disease by looking at how much exercise it takes for the blood flow to your heart to decrease or for your hearts rhythm to become abnormal.

Depending on your doctors exam and analysis, youll likely receive one of three instructions:

Given the sometimes-confusing information that is out there, it makes sense to wonder if fatigue and heart attack are linked. If youre at all concerned, contact your health care provider to get to the bottom of it.

Resting Baseline Measures Of Si Ci Bp And Hr In Relation To Fatigue

Fatigue did not predict MAP or HR . As summarized in Tables 2, ,3,3, ,4,4, and and5,5, fatigue was a significant predictor of SI and CI. Fatigue uniquely accounted for approximately 6% of the variance in SI and 8% of the variance in CI. The fatigue effects were independent of demographic variables such as age, ethnicity, sex, or screening BP. For explaining SI as well as CI, fatigue nearly doubled the variance explained by the demographic variables . Adding depressive symptoms in a third step did not significantly increase the predictive capacity of the model, nor did it detract from the power of fatigue to explain CI and SI. Figure 1 graphically portrays the fatigue effects on hemodynamic functioning at rest.

You May Like: L Shaped Anti Fatigue Mat

Fatigue And Heart Disease

One of the most common symptoms of heart disease is fatigue, often occurring with other symptoms like shortness of breath, heart palpitations, high blood pressure, chest discomfort, and chest pain . Always fighting fatigue, wrote one MyHeartDiseaseTeam member. Another said, Today is another day I battle with fatigue.

Everyone feels exhausted from time to time. But fatigue goes beyond everyday tiredness, often having a significant impact on your ability to perform daily activities and on your overall quality of life. However, you and your health care provider or cardiology team can work together to find ways to manage the symptom. Here is what you need to know about fatigue in heart disease, including what causes it and how it can be managed.

How Can I Prevent A Silent Heart Attack

Nowâs the time to focus on heart-healthy habits, including stopping smoking or tobacco, eating a healthy diet, managing stress and exercising regularly.

Dr. Brittsan says one of the best preventative measures is having your vital signs checked.

âIf you never check your blood pressure, youâll never know itâs elevated,â she said. Blood pressure numbers of less than 120/80 mm Hg are considered within the normal range, according to the American Heart Association.

Plenty of affordable devices available allow you to check your blood pressure at home. Dr. Brittsan recommends one that uses an arm cuff, making sure itâs correctly sized.

For people that have a family history of heart disease, another important test is a heart scan that measures coronary artery calcium to find evidence of plaque disease before a silent heart attack happens.

Dr. Brittsan stresses the importance of consulting your doctor before a heart condition worsens.

âWhen people say, âI feel fine and donât need to go to the doctor,â just because you feel fine doesnât necessarily mean youâre OK,â she said.

Recommended Reading: Extreme Fatigue And Parkinson’s Disease

Your Body Gets Tired When You Do A Lot Of Work And This Is A Healthy Response That Asks You To Take Rest But Do You Know When Should You Be Worried About Fatigue Read Below Call Us For More Information

Whether you have a newborn, are burning the candle at both ends, or have been up all night, some fatigue is entirely normal. However, if you have constant fatigue that interferes with your day-to-day tasks even with a full night of sleep, there is likely something more serious underlying your heavy eyelids that may concern the health of your heart. At Sterling Heart Care, our doctors and medical professionals provide excellent treatment for any heart-related fatigue disorder!

Chest Pain Pressure And Discomfort

Most people with heart attacks experience some sort of chest pain or discomfort. But its important to understand that chest pains dont occur in every heart attack.

Chest pain is a common sign of a heart attack. People have described this sensation as feeling like an elephant is standing on their chest.

Some people dont describe chest pain as pain at all. Instead, they may say they felt chest tightness or squeezing. Sometimes this discomfort can seem bad for a few minutes and then go away. Sometimes the discomfort comes back hours or even a day later. These could all be signs your heart muscle isnt getting enough oxygen.

If you experience chest pains or tightness, you or someone around you should call 911 immediately.

Pain and tightness can also radiate in other areas of the body. Most people associate a heart attack with pain working its way down the left arm. That can happen, but pain can also appear in other locations, including:

American Heart Association , some women may even think their heart attack symptoms are flu-like symptoms.

A heart attack can cause exhaustion due to the extra stress on your heart to try to pump while an area of blood flow is blocked. If you often feel tired or exhausted for no reason, it could be a sign that something is wrong.

Don’t Miss: Can Adrenal Fatigue Cause Depression

Heart Attack And Unusual Tiredness

Sudden on-set of extreme fatigue or tiredness is one of the top heart attack symptoms for women. Along with chest discomfort, shortness of breath, and indigestion, abrupt and unexpected fatigue is another symptom that many women experience before they have a heart attack.

The American Heart Association conducted a study in 2003 to learn which symptoms women might have of a heart attack. They looked at 515 women who had had a heart attack and found that many noticed unexplained fatigue and trouble sleeping. Some of the women even experienced these symptoms up to one month before their heart attack. The researchers in the study suggested that these symptoms may serve as an early warning sign.

In the study, 70% of the women experienced unusual tiredness before their heart attack. Also, 48% noticed they had sleep disturbances beforehand. Only 30% of the participants reported feeling chest discomfort, the symptom that most of us think of when we hear heart attack. Whats even more interesting, most didnt report chest pain, but rather chest discomfort like tightness, aching, or pressure. The researchers suggested that recognizing symptoms like unexplained tiredness and difficulties sleeping may help people seek womens health care to potentially help prevent or delay a heart attack.

How To Tell If Your Breathlessness Is Being Caused By A Heart Problem

Breathlessness is a very common symptom and may be caused by underlying heart disease. Apart from heart disease, breathlessness can be caused by several other conditions. These include being unfit, being overweight, and even just getting older. Other important causes include anemia and lung disease.

In this article, I will discuss how you can work out if the breathlessness could be caused by underlying heart problems.

Breathlessness caused by heart disease is usually worse on exertion than it is at rest. If your breathlessness is worse at rest than it is on exercise then it is highly unlikely that it is due to an underlying heart condition. Heart disease is significantly more prevalent in older patients than in younger patients unless there is a history of congenital heart disease.

Common heart conditions which can cause breathlessness include:

Common causes of heart failure include previous heart attacks, a virus causing the heart to weaken and excessive alcohol intake causing heart muscle dysfunction.

I would recommend the following tests to ensure that your breathless is not being caused by an underlying heart disease.

You May Like: How To Deal With Adrenal Fatigue Naturally

You May Like: Adrenal Fatigue Weight Loss Success Stories

Is Extreme Fatigue A Sign Of A Heart Problem

If fatigue has become just another aspect of your waking hours, it could be a sign of a heart problem. Extreme fatigue can signal heart failure or, less commonly, coronary artery disease . We highly recommend that you seek medical attention if you feel an abnormal amount of fatigue throughout the day to either rule out heart failure or get treatment before it progresses.

Red Cell Volume And Pv

Red cell volume and PV measurements were performed in the Nuclear Medicine Department of the Freeman Hospital, Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. These were calculated using the indicator dilution technique using simultaneous 51-chromium labelling of red blood cells and 125-iodine labelling of serum albumin. Radioactivity concentrations were measured in blood samples collected at 15, 30 and 45min after reinjection and compared with standards to accurately determine the RCV and PV. Total blood volume was calculated by summing the two.

Participants underwent one event each of 51Cr RCV and 125I PV . The total effective dose for a participant completing the study was estimated at 2.76mSv. This is equivalent to 13months of exposure to background radiation in the UK.

Don’t Miss: What Causes Fatigue And Sweating

Fatigue An Early Sign Of Heart Attack

Unusual fatigue and sleeplessness might be early warning signs of a heart attack in women, a study suggests. The study, published Monday in the American Heart Association journal Circulation, surveyed 515 women who had heart attacks and found that 95 percent had such symptoms as much as a month before they were stricken.

Chest pains can be early indicator of a heart attack, but 43 percent of the women in the study said they never experienced chest discomfort, said researcher Jean C. McSweeney.

The study is the first time researchers have identified fatigue and sleeplessness as possible early warning signs of a heart attack in women.

If we can get women to recognize the symptoms early, we can get them treatment and prevent or delay a heart attack, said McSweeney, a professor at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Little Rock. Thats why the early symptoms are significant.

The researchers said they do not know whether the findings also apply to men, who tend to have somewhat different symptoms when a heart attack strikes.

InsertArtThe study surveyed women ages 29 to 97 who had been released four to six months earlier from five hospitals in Arkansas, North Carolina and Ohio after suffering a heart attack. They were shown a list of 70 symptoms they may have experienced during the months leading up the heart attack and were asked to rate them based on frequency and severity.

The women had more than just ordinary fatigue and sleeplessness.

What Did The Results Show

There were no significant differences in resting heart rate or systolic/diastolic blood pressure between patients and controls.

In the ME/CFS patients, left ventricular mass was substantially reduced compared with controls.

After correction for individual body size, the various measures of blood pool volume in the heart were significantly lower in patients than controls:

• stroke volume was lower by 26%
• cardiac output was lower by 21%
• end diastolic volume was lower by 25%.

Intriguingly, residual torsion was significantly higher in the patients, indicating a delay in the release of torsion at the end of the beat.

To put this in context, healthy people have an increase in residual torsion of around 50% between the ages of 22 and 69 years, possibly because ageing affects the lining of the muscle fibres which permit the heart to relax. Why residual torsion is raised even more in people with ME/CFS is unclear, but because the level of torsion was found to be related to end-diastolic volume the researchers speculate that low total blood volume might be involved. In fact, the research team says that its overall findings strongly suggest a marked reduction in the total blood volume in ME/CFS patients since a smaller volume flowing into the heart would lead to a lower amount of blood pumped by the ventricle and a lower cardiac output.

This essay is an extract from our article in the Autumn 2012 issue of Breakthrough.

Search

Don’t Miss: Buffalo Tools Anti Fatigue Rubber Mat Flat