How Does Heart Health Affect Fatigue
When you have an unhealthy heart, your whole body is affected. Your heart pumps and funnels blood throughout your body, carrying oxygen and nutrients to every vital organ to function correctly. As a result, when your heart cannot pump and channel blood throughout the body strong and fast enough, the rest of your body has to work extra hard for you to keep functioning. Such is the case with heart failure and fatigue. With heart failure, your heart does not work as efficiently as expected, which decreases the amount of blood it pumps and funnels throughout the body. Your heart chambers respond by stretching to hold more blood, which is a temporary solution to keeping blood moving, but this also weakens your hearts muscles, further weakening its ability to pump blood efficiently. When blood cannot get to your brain, lungs, and muscles fast and strong enough, one of the results is constant and relentless fatigue, often accompanied by weakness, dizziness, and confusion.
Chest Discomfort Is Linked To Heart Attacks But What About Signs Of Heart Failure Valve Problems And Irregular Heartbeats
Chest pain is not always present in people with heart disease. Instead, other symptoms can be the signals that alert you to heart disease.
“Any symptom that seems to be provoked by exertion and relieved by rest could be heart-related. Particularly in people with underlying risk factors such as high cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes, tobacco use, a sedentary lifestyle, obesity, and a strong family history of heart disease, other symptoms besides chest pain may be the clue to a heart problem,” says Dr. Randall Zusman, a cardiologist with Harvard-affiliated Massachusetts General Hospital.
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Characteristics Of Incident Hf At Diagnosis
Among 12,285 newly diagnosed HF cases, 4195 were inpatient diagnoses and 8090 were outpatient diagnoses. The average number of years between the first Geisinger encounter and diagnosis date was 6.6 years. The median age of new HF cases was 76 years and 51% were female. HF cases had large amounts of cardiovascular comorbidity with 60% having coronary atherosclerosis, 25% prior myocardial infarction, 34% cerebrovascular disease, and 37% atrial fibrillation. Clinically documented symptoms near, or prior to, the HF diagnosis date were highly prevalent with 62% having documented dyspnea, 53% chest pain, 43% edema, and 31% syncope.
Fatigue was clinically documented in 4827 of the incident HF cases. Patients with fatigue were on average older, more likely to be female, had more cardiovascular and non-cardiovascular comorbidity, and more additional symptoms including dyspnea, chest pain, edema, syncope, and palpitations . Though absolute differences were small, patients with fatigue had several worse laboratory parameters, including markers of nutrition and multiple red blood cell indices . Patients with fatigue were also more likely to be prescribed several medications, though absolute differences across fatigue status groups were small .
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What Causes ‘your’ Fatigue
Many physical and mental illnesses, as well as lifestyle factors, can cause your fatigue, and that can make it hard to diagnose. In some cases, it might be something simple and easy to fix, like having caffeine at bedtime. But other causes, like heart disease or COPD, are serious, and you may need to start long-term treatment right away.
Your doctor can help you sift through your health issues, as well as diet, exercise, and other lifestyle habits, in order to zero in on the cause and help you on the road to recovery.
Baseline Characteristics Of Stress Evoking Task
The results of the linear mixed models confirmed that there was a significant increase in cardiovascular parameters as a response to TSST HR: . Of the participants, 22 did not complete the job interview task and a further 6 discontinued the TSST at the arithmetic task, due to maladaptive increases in cardiovascular parameters.
Figure 1. Descriptive statistics of cardiovascular characteristics and comparison with baseline cardiovascular measures during Trier Social Stress Test in the study patients. p< 0.05, p< 0.01, p< 0.001 as compared with baseline rest.
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Compassionate Understanding Womens Health Care At Herkare
Our team at HerKare is here to help you feel great again. We put you in charge at our womens health clinic. Our goal is to help you stay healthy and help improve your quality of life. Whether you need an annual exam or are coming in to talk about any symptoms or concerns you have about your health, we believe in providing compassionate womens health care in a welcoming environment. We take time to listen and understand, and then help you feel better. Make an appointment today and lets talk about your health and wellbeing!
Univariate Linear Regression Analysis
Univariate regression analysis showed that global fatigue was significantly linked with HR during the TSST task instruction : Mental fatigue was significantly associated with SBP, DBP and HR, while the total fatigue was significantly associated with SBP and HR during TSST task instruction . Reduction in self-reported motivation was associated with SBP during TSST arithmetic task , however after adjustment for multiple comparisons, this association was no longer significant and so was not included in further analysis. In addition, cardiovascular responses to the TSST were significantly linked with several sociodemographic and clinical characteristics , which were included in the further analysis as possible covariates.
Table 3. The associations between cardiovascular reactivity during Trier Social Stress Test in six stages and different domains of fatigue in study patients.
Table 4. The associations between cardiovascular reactivity during Trier Social Stress Test in six stages and sociodemographic and clinical factors.
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When You’re Tired Of Being Tired
If fatigue is affecting your quality of life, its time to talk to your doctor. Tracking your daily sleep and activity levels can help you present him or her with a better overall picture of your condition, especially if your symptoms are vague. If you don’t have a fitness or smartwatch, consider downloading a phone app like Sharecare, available for iOS and Android.
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Why Am I So Tired All The Time Heart Disease And 4 Other Causes Of Fatigue You Shouldn’t Ignore
On any given Monday morning, most of us struggle to get out of bed as we dread the inevitable work week. We yawn, we stretch, and we drift in and out of sleep. Throughout the day, we feel exhausted both mentally and physically. The Sunday Night Blues or a lack of sleep aren’t the only things sapping our energy sleep loss could be a sign of several serious illnesses.
Our 24/7 lifestyle can lead us to feel exhausted or run down, and affect our sleeping patterns. This is because we are never turning off according to Dr. Gabrielle Francis, a naturopathic doctor at The Herbal Alchemist in New York City, N.Y. This syndrome is also known as wired and tired,'” she told Medical Daily.
Fatigue is an American epidemic that is one of the most common complaints physicians hear. It is quite prevalent in the general population, with 28 percent reporting fatigue. This could be the result of expending more energy than we can take in, but it could also be a red flag for more serious conditions.
Below are the signs of fatigue we shouldn’t ignore.
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When To See A Healthcare Provider
The symptoms most commonly caused by heart disease can also be produced by other medical conditions, from very serious to entirely benign. If you experience any of the above symptoms, you need an evaluation by your healthcare provider to identify the cause. These are symptoms that should never be ignored.
Additionally, if you’re having any difficulty getting an erection, especially if the problem has been gradual, this is nearly always one of the first signs of either heart disease or diabetes in men. Be sure to see your healthcare provider as soon as you notice any problem with erectile dysfunction.
If you have a family history of heart disease or you’re worried about your risk for developing it, be sure to talk to your healthcare provider. Staying proactive where your heart health is concerned can help you detect any problems early, giving you a better potential outcome.
Heart Disease Doctor Discussion Guide
Get our printable guide for your next healthcare provider’s appointment to help you ask the right questions.
Abnormally Low Blood Volume
Two studies conducted in 2009 and 2010 reported that people with ME/CFS had lower-than-normal blood volume.
Moreover, the lower the blood volume, the more severe the case of ME/CFS. Many scientists now believe that low blood volume contributes to many of the symptoms of ME/CFS.
Low blood volume is a factor in certain cardiovascular issues seen in CFS, specifically orthostatic symptoms and a small left ventricle.
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Reason : When + What You Eat Matters
Its no secret that heart failure can steal your appetite. The food choices you make, as well as your eating habits, can affect your energy level and quality of life.
Here, preventive cardiology dietitian , offers 8 tips for adopting a heart-healthy diet:
This article was adapted from Cleveland Clinic Heart Advisor.
Warning Signs Of A Heart Attack
Not all heart attacks are alike
Did you know that you can have a heart attack without feeling any chest pain? Heart failure and heart disease dont show the same signs for everyone, especially women.
The heart is a muscle that contracts to pump blood throughout the body. A heart attack occurs when the heart muscle doesnt get enough blood. Blood carries oxygen and nutrients to the heart muscle. When there isnt enough blood flowing to your heart muscle, the affected part can get damaged or die. This is dangerous and sometimes deadly.
Heart attacks happen suddenly, but they normally result from long-standing heart disease. Typically, a waxy plaque builds up on the walls inside your blood vessels that feed the heart muscle. Sometimes a chunk of the plaque, called a blood clot, breaks off and prevents blood from passing through the vessel to your heart muscle, resulting in a heart attack.
Less commonly, something like stress, physical exertion, or cold weather causes the blood vessel to contract or spasm, which decreases the amount of blood that can get to your heart muscle.
There are many risk factors that contribute to having a heart attack, including:
A heart attack is a medical emergency. Its really important to listen to what your body is telling you if you think you might be having one. Its better to seek emergency medical treatment and be wrong than to not get help when youre having a heart attack.
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Cardiac Abnormalities Linked To Me/cfs
Chronic fatigue syndrome involves a lot more than fatigue. In addition to a few dozen possible symptoms, this disease is also linked to certain heart abnormalities. Does that mean you have to worry about developing heart disease? Not necessarily. However, you should watch out for signs of heart disease and do what you can to lower your risk.
The incident rate of heart disease is higher in people with ME/CFS than in the general population, and the association may be more than incidental.
Underactive Thyroid And Fatigue
Symptoms: Extreme fatigue, sluggishness, feeling run-down, depression, cold intolerance, weight gain
The problem may be a slow or underactive thyroid. This is known as hypothyroidism. The thyroid is a small, butterfly-shaped gland that sits at the base of your neck. It helps set the rate of metabolism, which is the rate at which the body uses energy.
According to the American Thyroid Foundation, about 17% of all women will have a thyroid disorder by age 60. And most won’t know it. The most common cause is an autoimmune disorder known as Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. Hashimoto’s stops the gland from making enough thyroid hormones for the body to work the way it should. The result is hypothyroidism, or a slow metabolism.
Blood tests known as T3 and T4 will detect thyroid hormones. If these hormones are low, synthetic hormones can bring you up to speed, and you should begin to feel better fairly rapidly.
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Warning Signs And Symptoms Of Heart Disease
Heart disease often develops over time. You may have early signs or symptoms long before you have serious heart problems. Or, you may not realize you are developing heart disease. The warning signs of heart disease may not be obvious. Also, not every person has the same symptoms.
Certain symptoms, such as chest pain, ankle swelling, and shortness of breath may be signals that something is wrong. Learning the warning signs can help you get treatment and help prevent a heart attack or stroke.
High Blood Pressure And Fatigue
High blood pressure can make your heart work harder and increase your risk for heart disease, heart attack, and stroke. Nearly half of all adults in the U.S. either have high blood pressure or take medications to treat it. Your risk for high blood pressure increases with age.
High blood pressure is another condition that may make you feel extremely tired. Though high blood pressure is often called a silent killer, because it often doesnt cause any symptoms, some people do feel extreme fatigue. Some signs you might have high blood pressure include fatigue, lightheadedness, feeling weak, and shortness of breath.
Also, you can also feel extremely tired due to heart conditions that may be caused by high blood pressure. For example, high blood pressure can lead to coronary artery disease, peripheral arterial disease, heart failure, and enlarged heart, all of which may cause fatigue.
When you come in for a health assessment from our womens health care providers, we screen for many different conditions to help find underlying causes of your symptoms. We check your blood pressure and can help you find treatment solutions to reduce your blood pressure and the serious risks associated with it.
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Unusual Fatigue May Be Warning Symptom Of Heart Attack In Women
- Date:
- American Heart Association
- Summary:
- In a study of women who had heart attacks, symptoms such as unexplained fatigue or trouble sleeping were experienced as much as a month before the heart attack, indicating the possibility that acting on these advance symptoms could prevent an impending heart attack.
DALLAS, Nov. 4 In a study of women who had heart attacks, symptoms such as unexplained fatigue or trouble sleeping were experienced as much as a month before the heart attack, indicating the possibility that acting on these advance symptoms could prevent an impending heart attack. The study, one of the first comprehensive examinations of issues that might allow prevention of imminent heart attack in women, is reported in today’s rapid access issue of Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association.
“Since women reported experiencing early warning signs more than a month prior to the heart attack, this could allow time to treat these symptoms and to possibly delay or prevent the heart attack,” said Jean C. McSweeney, Ph.D., R.N., lead author and a professor in the College of Nursing at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Little Rock.
Only 30 percent reported chest discomfort before their heart attack. They described the discomfort in terms like aching, tightness and pressure not pain, McSweeney said.
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Heart Disease And Fatigue
Symptoms: Fatigue from an activity that should be easy
If youre exhausted after an activity that used to be easy — for example, walking up the steps — it may be time to talk to your doctor about the possibility of heart disease. Heart disease is the leading cause of death in women. If your fatigue is related to your heart, medication or treatments can usually help correct the problem, cut the fatigue, and restore your energy.
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