In an exclusive quote from this woman's guide to living with heart disease, by Carolyn Thomas, author of the award-winning Heart Sisters blog, Thomas explained how fatigue made him surprised and how he learned to overcome it.
Throughout my life BHA (Before a Heart Attack), I hardly remember feeling very tired. Oh, of course, I will feel sick after working a long time, sweating in our orchard when I was a teenager. Or dream after throwing every night on campus. Or getting out of my tired mind trying to deal with a child with a stomach ache and toddler to grow teeth when he was young. Or tired at the end of a stressful day conjuring up the last minute deadline throughout my PR career. Or maybe even with pleasant pain after my runner group finished our long training on Sunday morning.
But in general, every day, I have never felt the kind of severe fatigue that I experienced (after a heart attack). I didn't expect fatigue like this to be directed at me. I am not just exhausted, I am very depressed by all this fatigue. What is wrong with me? Why can't I lift my socks and feel normal again?
Advice for a healthy heart. Your heart is worthy of a specialist. Just as the cancer diagnosis results in a referral to an oncologist, someone who is diagnosed with advanced heart failure also needs a specialist.
I found surprising answers to disturbing questions in a Swedish study at the University of Gothenburg. The researchers found that about half of all patients who survived a heart attack continued to experience "fatigue fatigue" four months after diagnosis. Dr. Pia Alsén, lead author of the study, observed: "Many people who recover from heart attacks experience fatigue due to new and different, not related to physical activity or lack of rest; it occurs unexpectedly and cannot be attributed to definite causes."
It is difficult to describe this type of fatigue for those who have never experienced it, or to explain fatigue that does not diminish with rest. This fatigue is not the same as feeling tired. This is more like getting a cold, or being hit by a big bus.
Dr. Alsén added that the difficult reason for fatigue after a heart attack can also be caused by damage to the heart muscle caused by the heart attack itself. When the heart muscle is damaged because of the loss of oxygenated blood flow during a heart attack, scar tissue is formed, which can reduce the efficiency of the heart, depending on the size and location of the damage. In my first days at home, the simplest task, even a shower, needed the highest effort and recovery 20 minutes later, where I felt trembling, dizziness and pain.
I remember walking a block with my son Ben shortly after returning from the hospital. My postoperative instructions from CCU have been running outdoors one block a day for the first week, two blocks a day for the second week, etc. By the way, I know that this suggestion might be too careful, because the one who needs the most heart that is injured after the heart event is exercise. Some researchers now suggest that patients who start a sports program supervised a week after a heart attack have improved heart performance compared with patients who postpone exercise. In fact, for those who are expected to start training like me, the results of the delay seem dramatic, according to Dr. Mark Haykowsky from the University of Alberta; He found this surprising result in heart patients he and his research team learned: "For each week new heart patients delay the start of their exercise care, they have to practice for another month to get the same benefits."
Back on the road one easy block to remember: Ben and I just reached the stop sign at the end of our block when I had to grab his arm to support me all the way home. I can't believe it! I feel like a weak old woman, barely able to drag one foot in front of the other. And when we finally returned home (the slowest walk in history recorded), I fainted to recover, already wondering if I should avoid walking fully.
But it turns out, despite being exhausted, Ben really encouraged me to go for a walk every day, a little further. And unless your doctor specifically instructs you to take a break, as Dr. Haykowsky, who usually helps the injured heart is working, not resting.
So what can we do when fatigue makes it difficult to follow that advice? Over the years, my generous Heart Sisters blog readers have shared these tips that can also work for you, especially during the fragile first days:
Take it well and slowly.
Get up from bed at the same time every morning.
Take care of your energy, especially in the first few weeks.
You don't need to prove anything, and there's no reward for doing too much, too fast.
Try to maintain a regular sleep schedule with a routine that is calm and without screens first.
Perfect art takes a 20 minute nap.
Go outside every day to breathe fresh air.
Pay attention to eating healthy foods regularly.
Take care of your caffeine and sugar intake.
Try relaxation techniques, gentle stretching or meditation.
Plan your day carefully. Alternate periods of activity and rest.
When you rest, plan what you will do when you are most capable.
Check the side effects of the drug. Take them at the best time of day to minimize side effects (for example, if side effects are known from fatigue or dizziness, ask if you can drink them before going to bed).
Accept the fact that your usual list of assignments will not be fulfilled today.
Respect your recovery body, what can be done today and what can't.
Watch funny movies. It won't make you feel less tired, but laughter will make you feel better.
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