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Heart Disease (Expert Forum)
After effects of a heart attack
This forum is for questions and support regarding heart issues such as: Angina, Angioplasty, Arrhythmia, Bypass Surgery, Cardiomyopathy, Coronary Artery Disease, Defibrillator, Heart Attack, Heart Disease, High Blood Pressure, Mitral Valve Prolapse, Pacemaker, PAD, Stenosis, Stress Tests.
After effects of a heart attack
by Gregory-A-Wirtel, Sep 28, 1997 12:00AM
Posted By CCF Cardio MD-APS on October 08, 1997 at 15:33:54:
In Reply to: After effects of a heart attack posted by Gregory A. Wirtel on September 28, 1997 at 09:16:50:
: My Dad had a heart attack a few weeks ago and he gets tired easily. He is a
details oriented person and would like to no exactly why he gets exhausted
so easily. he realises that the heart attack damaged his heart, but can't
understand why the exhaustion is so overwhelming.
In Reply to: After effects of a heart attack posted by Gregory A. Wirtel on September 28, 1997 at 09:16:50:
: My Dad had a heart attack a few weeks ago and he gets tired easily. He is a
details oriented person and would like to no exactly why he gets exhausted
so easily. he realises that the heart attack damaged his heart, but can't
understand why the exhaustion is so overwhelming.
Doctor's Answer
by CCF CARDIO MD APS, Sep 28, 1997 12:00AM
Dear Gregory,
Fatigue is the most notorious non-specific symptom in all of medicine, that is to say
it has many, many causes; it arises as a result of diseases of the heart, lung, bone marrow,etc.
Given that you father recently had a heart attack, his damaged heart may very well
be the cause of his fatigue. The presumed cause of fatigue in cardiology (presumed because
the exact pathophysiology is not known) is lack of blood flow to the various body parts or more particularly lack of oxygen delivery by the blood from the heart to the various tissues of the
body, but especially decreased delivery to the skeletal muscles which require a tremendous amount of oxygen to do any amount of work, even climbing just one flight of stairs!
A heart attack that leaves the heart failing is most likely to produce fatigue and
shortness of breath, regardless, the heart attack victim needs continued therapy and
reevaluation as new symptoms arise, as well there are a few medications that can potentially
help to decrease the fatigue your father experiences. If you want your father to be evaluated
at the Cleveland Clinic Heart Center feel free to call 1-800-CCF-CARE for an appointment
with a cardiologist.
Information provided in the Heart Forum is intended for general medical informational
purposes only. Actual diagnosis and treatment of any particular medical condition can only be
made by your physician(s).
Sincerely, APS MD
