Latest news with #fatigue
Medical News Today
25-05-2025
- Health
- Medical News Today
Ministrokes may result in 1 year of chronic fatigue
Written by Jessica Freeborn on May 25, 2025 — Fact checked by Harriet Pike, Ph.D. Transient ischemic attacks may result in 1 year of chronic fatigue, a new study finds. Image credit: Westend61/Getty Images. Transient ischemic attacks occur when there is a temporary blockage to the brain's blood supply. Research about the potential long-term impact of transient ischemic attacks is ongoing . A recent study has found that people who experience a transient ischemic attack, or 'ministroke,' can experience fatigue for as long as a year afterwards. Transient ischemic attacks — sometimes referred to as 'ministrokes' — involve a temporary blockage to the brain's blood supply. People who experience a transient ischemic attack may go on to experience a stroke later on. Due to such health-related concerns, doctors and other medical experts are interested in the long-term struggles people may face after a transient ischemic attack. A recent study published in Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology, examined fatigue following a transient ischemic attack. The Danish Physiotherapy Association funded this research. Over half of the participants experienced general fatigue 1 year after their transient ischemic attack. The results suggest that addressing fatigue in individuals who experience transient ischemic attacks may be important. This research was a prospective cohort study exploring fatigue after a transient ischemic attack. All participants had experienced a transient ischemic attack, were at least 18, and had started experiencing symptoms within the previous 30 days. Researchers excluded certain individuals, such as those with terminal illnesses or those who were unable to fill out questionnaires. All participants received treatment for transient ischemic attack at Aalborg University Hospital's stroke unit. Researchers used two questionnaires to evaluate the participants' fatigue levels. The first assessed fatigue in five different domains, and the second measured fatigue severity. Participants answered these questionnaires via email or letter. One domain of fatigue was general fatigue, where a score of 12 points or more indicated pathologic fatigue. The initial baseline assessment happened an average of around 20 days after participants experienced their transient ischemic attack symptoms. Researchers then followed up with participants at 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months. Participants underwent MRI scans to see if they had acute infarction, which refers to injury or death of brain tissue resulting from the blockage in blood flow. Researchers collected other participant data as well, such as age, the type and duration of transient ischemic attack symptoms, and previous history of anxiety or depression. In all, 287 participants filled out the study's baseline questionnaires, and 250 participants filled out the final questionnaire 12 months later. Overall, there was a high likelihood of fatigue among participants. At baseline, just over 61% of participants had pathologic fatigue. At the 12-month mark, 53.8% of participants reported pathologic fatigue. Over 60% of participants who experienced pathologic fatigue at baseline reported pathologic fatigue 12 months later. In contrast, only 22.5% of participants who did not have a score indicating pathologic fatigue at baseline reported pathologic fatigue at the 12-month mark. The proportion of participants who experienced acute infarction was lower among those who experienced fatigue compared with those who did not experience fatigue. Among participants who had fatigue at baseline, 13.1% had acute infarction compared to 19.8% in the participant group who did not report fatigue at baseline. Researchers further suggested that looking for acute ischemic lesions alone is not enough to predict who will experience fatigue after a transient ischemic attack. Previous anxiety or depression was twice as common in the group that reported baseline fatigue. The results suggest a potential long-term impact following transient ischemic attacks. Christopher Yi, MD, a board-certified vascular surgeon at MemorialCare Orange Coast Medical Center in Fountain Valley, CA, who was not involved in the study, noted the following to Medical News Today: 'Very little is known about the impact of [transient ischemic attacks], as traditional approaches to [such events] are catered around stroke prevention (i.e. hypertension control, antiplatelets, anticoagulation, or surgery)… This study offers a new perspective on the lingering effects of transient ischemic attacks, which were traditionally thought to have no long-term consequences. This may add a new dimension to our approach to the management and workup of chronic fatigue.' This study does have a few limitations. For one, it was conducted out of one stroke unit in one hospital in Denmark. This could indicate the need for more diverse research in the future and a lack of generalizability. Then, the researchers acknowledged the possibility that relatives of the participants assisted with questionnaire responses, which could have affected their accuracy. Furthermore, some participants were excluded because they declined participation due to a lack of energy, which would indicate they also had fatigue. Researchers suggest that this could have led to selection bias, leading to 'an underestimation of fatigue prevalence.' Thus, even more research into fatigue may be warranted in the future. Continued research should look at why people develop fatigue after transient ischemic attacks, as the current study could not determine this. This data explores a long-term outcome of transient ischemic attacks. As research moves forward in this area, doctors may be encouraged to assess people for fatigue and offer appropriate support. It may also indicate the need for more follow-up regarding fatigue after people experience a transient ischemic attack. Speaking to MNT , Yi noted: 'Fatigue should be proactively assessed during follow-ups after a transient ischemic attack, even in patients who seem neurologically intact. Additionally, patients should be made aware that transient ischemic attacks can have ongoing effects, which might improve expectations and support seeking timely care.' The study authors point out that their findings indicate that fatigue levels among patients who experience a transient ischemic attack are comparable to those of stroke patients. They also note that fatigue may make it challenging to recover after a transient ischemic attack and negatively impact a person's attempts to make lifestyle changes. They argue that rehabilitation efforts might be as relevant for transient ischemic attack patients as they are for stroke patients. Cheng-Han Chen, MD, a board-certified interventional cardiologist and medical director of the Structural Heart Program at MemorialCare Saddleback Medical Center in Laguna Hills, CA, who was not involved in this research, told MNT that: 'By identifying the patients who develop fatigue soon after a [transient ischemic attack], we are better able to focus our efforts to support these patients to manage their symptoms and improve their quality of life. We traditionally think of transient ischemic attacks as short-lived events that have limited long-term impact on patients. Based on these findings, we should consider improved screening to identify these patients at risk for suffering longer-term consequences to their quality of life.' Uncategorized Stroke Cardiovascular / Cardiology
The Sun
22-05-2025
- Health
- The Sun
Brits urged to be mindful of their snack choices due to nation's ‘other' energy crisis
A HUGE 72 per cent of adults hit a wall multiple times each week, ultimately losing nearly 37 minutes of productivity when it strikes – just shy of 78 wasted hours a year. Nearly half (45 per cent) report feelings of fatigue during these moments, while 40 per cent feel unmotivated, and 37 per cent lack concentration. 1 Research involving 2,000 adults revealed others become irritable (27 per cent) and hungry (12 per cent) after hitting a wall. To highlight Britain's "other" energy crisis, a 17-tonne tank has smashed through a 13ft-high wall by Tower Bridge in London. The wall, crafted to represent the high carbs and sugar filled snacks 76 per cent typically reach for to boost their energy, was demolished by Grenade founder Alan Barratt, driving the protein brand's orange 'tank'. But while 78 per cent acknowledge the food they are fuelling themselves with could be to blame, 52 per cent are not confident in identifying the foods causing them to feel fatigued and lack focus. Neal Duffy, from the protein bar brand, said: 'We're a nation of hustlers, so we need to fuel our bodies the right way. 'Sugar isn't the enemy – it just needs to show up at the right time and in the right amount.' The research also found 39 per cent choose their snacks based on convenience rather than nutrition, although 34 per cent are interested in learning more about nutrition and switching to smarter snacking options. Half, 53 per cent, are open to trying new alternatives though, with 36 per cent on the lookout for high protein, low sugar snacks options. Sports nutritionist Lois Bright added: 'Being more mindful about what we eat and when we eat it will help us manage our energy levels more efficiently. 'As a nation, we need to understand what we're putting into our bodies and be realistic about what we'll get out. High-protein snack ideas that are quick and easy 'Choosing drinks and snacks which are high in protein is a simple switch we can all make to ensure we have the stamina to power through our busy days.' High-protein snacks include cottage cheese, hard-boiled eggs, Greek yogurt, nuts and seeds, and protein-rich treats like jerky or protein balls. Focusing on complex carbohydrates and healthy fats can also boost energy levels. Examples of complex carbohydrates include whole grains like brown rice, quinoa, and oats, starchy vegetables like sweet potatoes and peas, and legumes like beans and lentils. Healthy fats, particularly unsaturated fats, are found in a variety of plant-based and animal-based foods, including fatty fish, nuts, seeds, avocados, and certain oils. Other ways to boost your energy Sleep: Aim for seven to nine hours of quality sleep per night to allow your body to rest and repair. Establish a regular sleep schedule and create a relaxing bedtime routine. Stress management: Stress can deplete energy levels. Practice stress-reducing activities like yoga, meditation, or spending time in nature. Consider talking to a therapist or counselor if you are struggling with stress. Exercise: Regular physical activity, even moderate exercise like walking, can boost energy and improve mood. Aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise per week. Healthy diet: Eat a balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean protein. Avoid sugary drinks and processed foods, which can lead to energy crashes. Hydration: Dehydration can make you feel tired. Drink plenty of water throughout the day. Limit alcohol and caffeine: While caffeine can provide a temporary boost, it can also lead to energy crashes and interfere with sleep. Limit alcohol consumption, as it can disrupt sleep and lower energy levels.
New York Times
21-05-2025
- Health
- New York Times
What is post-viral syndrome? Explaining illness that limited Kristaps Porziņģis in NBA playoffs
The Boston Celtics missed a large piece of their offensive puzzle for much of the Eastern Conference semifinals, as big man Kristaps Porziņģis was severely limited while dealing with post-viral syndrome. If that sounds vague, it's because the ailment is somewhat of a nebulous medical diagnosis. Porziņģis missed eight games from late February to early March due to an upper respiratory illness. Days after the Celtics' season-ending loss to the New York Knicks, Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens said the lingering effects of Porziņģis' virus hindered him in the postseason. Advertisement Here's a closer look at the causes and effects of the health condition that kept the Latvian star from playing at his usual level: Post-viral syndrome (PVS) is a chronic health issue that occurs after a person has recovered from a viral infection. Symptoms include persistent fatigue, muscle aches, joint pain, headaches, brain fog, shortness of breath and difficulty sleeping, per the Virginia Department of Health. Long COVID is a recent example of PVS. Essentially, PVS will make you feel drained and weak after your immune system fights off a viral illness. It can last for days or months, and even people at peak health can struggle to shake the nagging symptoms. Porziņģis, 29, said in March that he laid at home for a week trying to recover following his initial bout of illness. 'And then after that, I still had lingering fatigue,' he said on March 15. 'And, I still have it a little bit, but at least now, I'm getting into, more or less, shape to be able to play. But yeah, after each workout, I was — boom, big crash. So, I was really, really fatigued. Not normal. It was extremely, extremely frustrating not knowing what I had. I haven't been this sick, probably ever, in my life.' Typical triggers include the common cold, the flu, COVID-19, pneumonia and Epstein-Barr, which is the primary cause of mononucleosis. While the Celtics didn't share details surrounding Porziņģis' respiratory illness, they did confirm it was not COVID-19. There isn't a specific cure for PVS, but medical professionals typically recommend rest, maintaining a balanced diet, low-impact exercise and increased fluid intake, per British healthcare organization North Bristol NHS Trust. During the regular season, Porziņģis averaged 19.5 points, 6.8 rebounds and 2.1 assists over 28.9 minutes. Advertisement Through the postseason, his average playing time dropped to 21 minutes. Porziņģis exceeded 20 minutes of playing time only once during the Eastern Conference semifinals, and coach Joe Mazzulla said the center missed the second half of Game 5 against the Knicks because 'he couldn't breathe.' Porziņģis averaged 12 points and 5.8 rebounds versus the Orlando Magic in the first round, but he managed just 4.2 points and 3.7 rebounds against the Knicks in an average of 15.5 minutes over six games. Stevens said Porziņģis will play for Latvia in the European Basketball Championship, EuroBasket, beginning in late August. Latvia will face Turkey in group play on Aug. 27. 'In the middle of a playoff series where you play every other day, it's not an ideal situation in terms of feeling better, especially with the travel and everything else and the amount of physical force these guys put on their bodies,' Stevens said. 'Our expectation is that it'll probably be — the next couple weeks will do him good to be off. He's going to play for Latvia. I think that's a good thing. I think it's good to be playing in Eurobasket, and I'm sure it'll be well cleared up by then.'
Fox News
20-05-2025
- Health
- Fox News
Mini-strokes may cause surprising long-term health issue, experts warn
Prolonged fatigue could indicate poor sleep habits — but it could also be a lingering effect of mini-strokes. That's according to a new study from Aalborg University Hospital in Denmark, which was published this week in Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology (AAN). A mini-stroke — medically known as a transient ischemic attack (TIA) — is a temporary blockage of blood flow to the brain that causes a "short period of symptoms," according to Mayo Clinic. The study found that people who experience a TIA are more likely to report prolonged fatigue lasting up to one year. "Patients with a presumed transient event reported fatigue at levels comparable to a stroke," lead study author Birgitte Hede Ebbesen, PT, PhD, a physiotherapist at Aalborg University Hospital, told Fox News Digital. The researchers followed 354 people averaging 70 years of age who had experienced a mini-stroke. Over a 12-month period, the participants reported their level of fatigue in five areas: overall tiredness, physical tiredness, reduced activity, reduced motivation and mental fatigue, according to a university press release. On a scale ranging from 4 to 20 — with 20 being the most fatigued — the participants reported an average score of 12.3 in the two weeks after the mini-stroke, 11.9 at three months, 11.4 at six months and 11.1 at the one-year mark. Two weeks after the mini-stroke, 61% reported high levels of fatigue. At three, six and 12 months, 54% said they experienced fatigue. Those who reported prolonged fatigue were twice as likely to have experienced anxiety and/or depression, the study found. Some also reported "We had encountered fatigue among patients with TIA in clinical settings, so we knew it was there — but the frequency still surprised us," Modrau told Fox News Digital. "Long-term fatigue was common in our group of study participants, and we found that if people experience fatigue within two weeks of leaving the hospital, it is likely they will continue to have fatigue for up to a year." Based on these findings, Modrau suggests that people diagnosed with a transient ischemic attack should be monitored for lingering fatigue in the ensuing weeks and months. "This could help us better understand who might struggle with fatigue long-term and require further care." The more commonly known symptoms of stroke include face drooping, arm weakness or slurred speech, which usually resolve within a day, according to Modrau. Some patients also reported long-term cognitive issues. Bradley Serwer, an interventional cardiologist and chief medical officer at VitalSolution, an Ingenovis Health company that offers cardiovascular and anesthesiology services to hospitals nationwide, confirmed that fatigue is very common — and sometimes "debilitating" — following a stroke. "Fatigue is multifactorial and can rarely be attributed to a single cause," Serwer, who was not involved in the study, told Fox News Digital. "Fatigue is multifactorial and can rarely be attributed to a single cause." The Maryland-based cardiologist shared the following potential reasons for fatigue following a mini-stroke. Brain healing: "After a stroke, the brain tries to heal itself," Serwer said. "This process causes the brain to work harder to 'rewire' itself, which results in a higher demand for energy. This often leaves patients feeling drained or fatigued." Increased inflammation: This can occur due to the immune response following a TIA. Lower levels of neurotransmitters in the brain: Reduced levels of chemicals like serotonin, dopamine and norepinephrine can result in depression, fatigue or lack of motivation, according to Serwer. Sleep disturbances: "These are very common after a stroke and can lead to significant sleep deprivation," the cardiologist said. Medications: Drugs used to treat strokes may have adverse side effects, including fatigue. "Betablockers are excellent blood pressure medications and are often prescribed after a stroke or heart attack, but they may cause notable fatigue," Serwer noted. Other factors: "Simple tasks may require more mental effort than before the injury," the cardiologist said. "Depression or anxiety after a stroke can also be a confounding predictor of fatigue." The study did have some limitations, the researchers noted. "It is an observational study and therefore we cannot determine causality," Modrau said. "Results are based on self-reported questionnaires, and we cannot be certain that relatives didn't help fill them out or influence results." The researchers also did not have information on pre-TIA fatigue levels, although previous studies suggested that it was "much more frequent" after mini-strokes. Looking ahead, Modrau said she hopes healthcare providers begin to acknowledge lasting fatigue after TIA and provide care pathways for these patients. For more Health articles, visit "Up until now, patients with lasting challenges after TIA have been left alone in many cases," she told Fox News Digital. "We as a society should start to acknowledge their difficulties instead of viewing them as 'the lucky ones,'" she continued. "My aim with this study has been to give these patients a voice – and to start to listen to their struggles."
Medscape
19-05-2025
- Health
- Medscape
Fatigue Can Persist up to a Year After TIA
Fatigue, a common symptom immediately after a transient ischemic attack (TIA), persists up to a year after the event in 53.8% of patients, a new study showed. History of anxiety or depression was twice as common in patients with fatigue than in those without. METHODOLOGY: Researchers conducted a prospective cohort study at a hospital in Denmark (2022-2023), including 287 adults with TIA (mean age, 70 years; 43% women) and symptom onset within the past 30 days. Participants completed Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory (MFI-20) and nine-item Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS) questionnaires at 14 days (considered baseline) and 3, 6, and 12 months after discharge. Prognostic factors considered in the analysis included sex, age, presence of acute ischemic lesions, education level, employment status before TIA , type and duration of onset symptoms, cohabitation, and a history of depression or anxiety and TIA or stroke. TAKEAWAY: At baseline and 3, 6, and 12 months, pathologic fatigue (defined as having an MFI-20 score of ≥ 12) was reported in 61.3%, 53.5%, 54.0%, and 53.8% of patients, respectively. 61.9% of patients who reported pathologic fatigue at baseline still reported fatigue 12 months later. A history of anxiety or depression was reported in 20% of patients with fatigue vs 9% of those without fatigue. The prevalence of acute infarction was evenly distributed between patients with fatigue and those without, suggesting no direct association between acute ischemic lesions and fatigue development. IN PRACTICE: 'If people experience fatigue within 2 weeks after leaving the hospital, it is likely they will continue to have fatigue for up to a year. For future studies, people diagnosed with a TIA should be followed in the weeks and months that follow to be assessed for lingering fatigue,' co-investigator Boris Modrau, MD, PhD, Aalborg University Hospital, Denmark, said in a press release. The authors of an accompanying editorial wrote, 'The observed high prevalence of severe fatigue 1 year after a TIA is both a concern and an opportunity. The coexistence of fatigue, anxiety, and depression provides insight into potential improvements in prevention and treatment strategies, which could be incorporated into existing lifestyle interventions as part of secondary prevention.' SOURCE: The study was led by Birgitte Hede Ebbesen, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark. The accompanying editorial was authored by Nina A. Hilkens and Ewoud J. Van Dijk, Research Institute for Medical Innovation and Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, Nijmegen, the Netherlands. Both were published online on May 14 in Neurology . LIMITATIONS: The study may have underestimated fatigue due to a selection bias as 36% of eligible patients declined participation citing low energy. Data were unavailable for nonresponders, and one item was missing from the FSS, limiting direct comparison with other cohorts. Self-reported data may have been influenced by caregiver assistance, introducing a potential bias. Additionally, as an observational study, it could not determine causal factors for fatigue, including the roles of TIA etiology or comorbidities. DISCLOSURES: The study was funded by the Danish Physiotherapy Association. The editorial did not receive any targeted funding. No relevant conflicts of interest were reported by the study investigators and the authors of the editorial.
