Feeling tired after a long day, not sleeping well, or physical activity is to be expected. But what if you notice a change in your energy levels that you can’t attribute to anything? Daily activities may now seem more challenging, you may now require more breaks than before, or maybe you just don’t have the stamina like you used to.
Fatigue and diminished energy can be caused by many things. That being said, changes in energy or a loss of exercise tolerance can be a sign that you are experiencing a cardiovascular issue.
Making an informed decision on your health is tied to identifying when a considerable change in energy levels can be linked to a change in your health.
If you have chronic fatigue causing other concerning symptoms, schedule a consult with a Gold Coast Cardiologist to see if you should be investigated further for your cardiovascular health.
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How Can the Heart Influence Your Energy Levels?
Your heart constantly pumps blood around your body. Your muscles, brain, and organs need the blood to function.
Your body may have difficulty fulfilling the demands of being active when your cardiovascular system isn’t efficient. For some people, this means diminished stamina, unusual tiredness, and longer recovery times.
A Heart Specialist Gold Coast may be able to determine if cardiovascular factors play a role in the changes you’ve noticed while fatigue can also have non-cardiac causes.
Fatigue May Feel Different From Ordinary Tiredness
It is not always the case that chest pain is the first indicator of heart trouble. Sometimes, a person wakes up to the fact that they feel tired at normal tasks--this could be the first signal to them that there is something wrong with their heart.
You may notice that:
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Walking your usual distance feels more draining
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You become more exhausted climbing stairs than normal
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You take more breaks to rest during activities at home or work
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You are no longer able to exercise for as long as you could previously
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You are tired even when you have been active for the day
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You need more time to recover from physical activity than you used to
What is most important to know is not fatigue itself, but the difference from what you are normally used to.
Why Reduced Exercise Tolerance Is Significant
Exercise tolerance refers to how well a person is able to engage in activities that tire them. Suppose it used to be normal for you to be able to comfortably walk several kilometers, but now you become tired or short of breath much faster. This could potentially be a medical concern.
When you engage in activities, your muscles consume more oxygen. This causes your heart to pump more blood to your muscles. Some heart conditions have a poor heart's response to increased demands and efficiency.
This does not mean that every loss of exercise tolerance is caused by heart disease. There are various other factors that can affect your energy, fitness levels, aging, anemia, medications, sleep problems, and several other things, for example, stress, and respiratory conditions.
If you would like to have a cardiovascular assessment done, a visit to a Cardiology Clinic is recommended.
What Heart Conditions Can Be Associated With Fatigue?
There are many heart conditions that may be attributed to fatigue and loss of exercise tolerance.
Coronary Artery Disease
Coronary arteries provide blood to the heart muscle. If these arteries narrow, it may lead to insufficient blood flow for the heart during increased physical activity.
Onset symptoms of coronary artery disease may include chest discomfort, shortness of breath, extreme fatigue, or declining stamina.
Patients exhibiting possible signs or symptoms of coronary artery disease may undergo more extensive testing. Depending on test results and other multi-faceted factors, treatment may include lifestyle modifications, the addition of medications, or intervention through a cardiac catheterization to perform angioplasty/stenting.
Heart Valve Disorders
Heart valves allow for unidirectional blood flow through the heart. Disruptive conditions of heart valves lead to an increased workload for the heart to achieve adequate circulation of blood.
Aortic stenosis is an example of a heart valve disorder. Symptoms of aortic stenosis may include decreased exercise ability, shortness of breath, dizziness, and fatigue.
Heart Rhythm Disorders
Abnormal heart rhythms may affect the body’s overall circulation. Disturbances of the heart’s rhythm may cause weakness, dizziness, and shortness of breath along with fatigue.
These symptoms warrant assessment and should not be dismissed based on an assumption of the cause.
When Should You Discuss Low Energy With a Doctor?
As fatigue may be common, low energy only warrants your attention when there is a clear change in your health. Fatigue consistently occurring or worsening should be evaluated by a doctor.
Pursue medical attention if fatigue occurs alongside:
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Chest discomfort or pain that doesn't go away, but may include pressure, tightness, or discomfort when moving
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Dyspnea
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Premature/extra/irregular heartbeat
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Dizziness or light-headedness
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Fainting
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Ankle and/or leg swelling
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Decreased tolerance for exercise
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Symptoms that occur only during exercise
Sudden or severe symptoms, especially if “chest discomfort,” breathing difficulty, or heart attack symptoms, need emergency medical care and should be called for by dialing 000 in Australia.
What Can a Cardiologist Diagnose?
People who type in “Experienced heart doctor near me” often have no idea what a cardiology assessment includes.
Cardiology assessments begin with the patient’s history and the symptoms they are experiencing. The doctor may ask about the fatigue, if it only occurs with activity, if it is worse with activity, if it is better with activity, and if there are other symptoms with fatigue.
Depending on case specifics, other cardiovascular tests are possibly warranted.
Evaluations for cardiovascular disease aren’t done under the assumption of fatigue being a heart issue. Evaluations done are to determine the extent and if further evaluation is warranted.
Choosing Specialist Cardiovascular Care
When people are looking for the “Best cardiologist Gold Coast” or the “Top rated cardiologist” in an online search as they are looking for specialist care, they should know that these labels aren’t sufficient when selecting a cardiologist.
Clinical experience, specialty areas, qualifications, and hospital affiliations are all important when choosing a cardiologist.
Dr. Shailesh Khatri works as an Interventional Cardiologist on the Gold Coast and specializes in coronary angiography, angioplasty, coronary stenting, and TAVI, along with specialized cardiovascular assessments and management.
Don’t Assume a Gap in Energy Levels is Driven by Your Age
Different levels of energy occur, particularly with people of different ages. However, there are some significant and unexplained changes that shouldn’t be attributed to getting older or “not being in shape.”
Check your activities for patterns.
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Are they getting more difficult?
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Are you taking more breaks?
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Are you now feeling breathless and tired?
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Do the symptoms go away if you take a break?
Those observations can give a Heart specialist Gold Coast, or your doctor, very helpful information about your situation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can fatigue be an early sign of a heart problem?
It could be a symptom of many other problems. Fatigue can be a sign of a problem with the heart. In most cases, people will experience changes in energy that don’t clear up with rest. This makes an evaluation by your doctor necessary.
Do I have to see a cardiologist every time I feel tired?
Not always. In many cases, your general practitioner might be able to figure out most of the issues that cause fatigue. If your doctor suspects a cardiovascular problem, a Cardiologist Gold Coast evaluation will be scheduled.
Is it normal to feel breathless and tired from exercise?
It should happen to everyone, to some extent, with strenuous exercise. Still, you should see your doctor if you lose the stamina and exercise capacity that you previously had.
Can coronary artery disease cause tiredness without chest pain?
Coronary artery disease symptoms can differ amongst each individual. In some cases, symptoms may include tiredness rather than chest pain, and may even cause shortness of breath or more noticeable exhaustion with physical activity. These symptoms may need further testing for diagnosis.
For specialist cardiac care on the Gold Coast, where can I go?
For cardiac care on the Gold Coast, Dr Shailesh Khatri provides specialised interventional cardiac care. You may need to see your General Practitioner for more specialised care if you have ongoing cardiovascular issues.
Pay Attention to What Has Changed
Lower energy levels alone will not show if there are heart issues. What can be important is recognizing a change in your daily capacity.
If there is now more noticeable difficulty within activities that typically require less effort, especially with shortness of breath, pain in your chest, dizziness or palpitations, talk to a healthcare professional.
It’s better to know the reason for the change than having to just deal with the new change.