Causes of Fatigue and a Racing Heart
Fatigue is medically defined as a reduced ability to perform work and is a feeling of temporary or chronic tiredness, malaise and low energy. In most cases fatigue is caused by stress, overwork, poor nutrition and a lack of physical fitness and restful sleep. It can also occur along with a racing or rapid heart beat or tachycardia as the heart tries to pump blood faster to increase energy. The University of Maryland Medical Center notes the fatigue can be a side effects of some types of medications 34. Several disorders and diseases can also cause fatigue and tachycardia symptoms.
If you are experiencing serious medical symptoms, seek emergency treatment immediately.
Stress
Stress and emotions such as frustration, grief and anger lead to raised levels of hormones such as norepinephrine or adrenaline by the sympathetic nervous system. This stress stimuli can lead to symptoms such as fatigue and an elevated heart rate. The Cleveland Clinic warns that chronic stress can lead to a consistently elevated heart rate, eventually resulting in hypertension or high blood pressure and even heart disease 2.
- Stress and emotions such as frustration, grief and anger lead to raised levels of hormones such as norepinephrine or adrenaline by the sympathetic nervous system.
- The Cleveland Clinic warns that chronic stress can lead to a consistently elevated heart rate, eventually resulting in hypertension or high blood pressure and even heart disease 2.
Infections
What Causes Extreme Fatigue?
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An illness due to an infection can lead to a fever and other symptoms such as fatigue and weakness. This can also temporarily cause tachycardia. According to the University of Illinois Medical Center, the heart rate is raised because the infection causes stress on the body 34. The brain then signals the immune system to battle the illness-causing infection and the heart rate and blood flow to the tissues are increased. The blood flow carries immune cells such as white blood cells and macrophages throughout the body.
- An illness due to an infection can lead to a fever and other symptoms such as fatigue and weakness.
- According to the University of Illinois Medical Center, the heart rate is raised because the infection causes stress on the body 3.
Pacemaker
The sinus or sinoatrial node is the heart’s natural pacemaker and controls the rate of the heart’s beating. If the sinus node becomes damaged it can begin firing electrical stimuli at an elevated rate, causing a rapid heart rate called sinus tachycardia. The American Heart Association warns that abnormal firing of the sinus node can also be triggered by factors such as:
- depression
- anxiety
- anemia
- dehydration
- thyroid hormone imbalances
- severe blood loss,
- some medications 1
Heart Valve Problems
Extreme Fatigue in Children
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A maximum healthy heart rate is approximately 220 minus the age of the individual. However, some conditions such as heart valve problems can lead to symptoms such as tachycardia and fatigue. This occurs because the valve is unable to close properly leading to some backflow of blood. The cells of the body are then unable to receive oxygen adequately and the heart must pump faster and more forcefully to deliver blood effectively.
- A maximum healthy heart rate is approximately 220 minus the age of the individual.
- However, some conditions such as heart valve problems can lead to symptoms such as tachycardia and fatigue.
Related Articles
References
- American Heart Association: Target Heart Rates
- Cleveland Clinic: Arrhythmias
- University of Illinois Medical Center: Heart Rate
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Fatigue Causes
- American Heart Association. All about heart rate (pulse). Updated July 31, 2015.
- American Heart Association. About arrythmia. Updated September 30, 2016.
- American Heart Association. Why arrhythmia matters. Updated September 30, 2016.
- Henz BD, Leite LR. Atrial fibrillation and cryptogenic thromboembolic events. Arq Bras Cardiol. 2018;111(2):132–133. doi:10.5935/abc.20180141
- Cleveland Clinic. Arrhythmia treatments. Updated on April 23, 2019.
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- American Heart Association. Warning signs of heart failure. Updated May 31, 2017.
- Havakuk O, King KS, Grazette L, et al. Heart failure-induced brain injury. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2017;69(12):1609-1616. doi:10.1016/j.jacc.2017.01.022
- American Heart Association. Understand your risk for excessive blood clotting.
- American Heart Association. Problem: Mitral valve prolapse. Updated May 31, 2016.
- American Heart Association. About heart attacks. Updated July 31, 2016.
- Sundbøll J, Horváth-puhó E, Schmidt M, et al. Long-term risk of stroke in myocardial infarction survivors: thirty-year population-based cohort study. Stroke. 2016;47(7):1727-1733. doi:10.1161/STROKEAHA.116.013321
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Conditions that increase risk for a stroke. Updated January 31, 2020.
- Collado FMS, Poulin MF, Murphy JJ, Jneid H, Kavinsky CJ. Patent foramen ovale closure for stroke prevention and other disorders. J Am Heart Assoc. 2018;7(12). doi:10.1161/JAHA.117.007146
- Whitehead L. The family experience of fatigue in heart failure. J Fam Nurs. 2017;23(1):138-156. doi:10.1177/1074840716684232
- Hauber AB, Obi EN, Price MA, Whalley D, Chang CL. Quantifying the relative importance to patients of avoiding symptoms and outcomes of heart failure. Curr Med Res Opin. 2017;33(11):2027-2038. doi:10.1080/03007995.2017.1355782
Writer Bio
Noreen Kassem is a hospital doctor and a medical writer. Her articles have been featured in "Women's Health," "Nutrition News," "Check Up" and "Alive Magazine." Kassem also covers travel, books, fitness, nutrition, cooking and green living.