Feeling tired and having heart palpitations can stem from common lifestyle factors like stress, caffeine, dehydration, and lack of sleep, but they can also signal underlying issues such as anxiety, anemia, thyroid problems (hyperthyroidism), hormonal changes (pregnancy, menopause), or heart conditions like arrhythmias (e.g., atrial fibrillation) or POTS, making it crucial to see a doctor for proper diagnosis and management, especially if symptoms are persistent or severe.
When Should You Worry About Heart Palpitations? If you're feeling heart palpitations that won't go away, happen more often and last longer, or you feel tired, short of breath, dizzy, lightheaded, or the palpitations are affecting your quality of life, it's time to see your doctor.
If you feel faint, dizzy or get chest pain when having palpitations, then you must seek medical attention. If the palpitations last for a long period of time but you still feel well, it is still important to see a doctor. It is common for feet, ankles and hands to swell during pregnancy.
Tiredness, fatigue
You may also feel sleepy after eating, weak in the legs when walking and short of breath while being active. The heart can't pump enough blood to meet the needs of body tissues.
Sudden, extreme fatigue can occur due to various medical conditions, including diabetes, depression, and fibromyalgia. Treatment varies depending on the cause. Fatigue is when a person feels persistent exhaustion, lack of energy, or burnout. This can be physical, mental, or both.
Vitamin and mineral deficiencies, including B2, B3, B5, B6, B9, B12, C, D, iron, and magnesium, are among the most common causes of unexplained fatigue. Vitamin D deficiencies affect over 50% of the global population, and approximately 12.5% have iron deficiency anemia.
The four Ps are problem solving, planning, prioritising and pacing. The aim is to think of the four Ps at the beginning of each day or week to help you manage your energy levels.
Three early warning signs of heart failure include persistent fatigue/weakness, shortness of breath (especially with activity or lying down), and swelling (edema) in your legs, ankles, and feet, often accompanied by rapid weight gain from fluid buildup, all signaling your heart isn't pumping efficiently enough. Other key indicators are a chronic cough (sometimes with pink mucus) and heart palpitations.
Heart palpitations are often mistaken for atrial fibrillation (AFib), a more serious condition that occurs when your heart beats too quickly, too slowly or irregularly (also called arrhythmia).
“When stress hormones are elevated, your blood pressure may rise and you may feel heart palpitations, a racing heartbeat, shortness of breath, or even chest pain. In extreme cases, stress can also cause the heart to temporarily weaken, a condition called stress-induced cardiomyopathy.”
Heart palpitations rarely cause any complications. However, if you have a history of heart disease and the heart palpitations begin occurring more frequently, you should speak with your doctor. While heart palpitations may not be considered life-threatening, they could indicate a more serious condition.
If you have a regular monthly menstrual cycle, the earliest and most reliable sign of pregnancy is a missed period. In the first few weeks of pregnancy you may have a bleed similar to a very light period, with some spotting or only losing a little blood. This is called implantation bleeding.
Symptoms of early pregnancy include missed periods, breast changes, tiredness, frequent urination, and nausea and vomiting (morning sickness).
Feeling always tired with no energy can stem from lifestyle factors like poor sleep, diet, or stress, but also from underlying issues like anemia, thyroid problems, depression, diabetes, sleep disorders, or vitamin deficiencies (B12, D, iron), so it's crucial to see a doctor for a proper diagnosis if rest doesn't help. Improving sleep habits, nutrition, exercise, and stress management can help, but persistent fatigue needs medical evaluation to rule out serious conditions.
Symptoms
Symptoms of AFib include “palpitations, shortness of breath, dizziness or lightheadedness and maybe some chest pressure,” Dr. Dominic said. But “the most common symptom of AFib—which is the most underappreciated symptom—is fatigue.”
Symptoms suggestive of a serious cause or complication, such as breathlessness, chest pain, syncope or near syncope. Risk factors for a serious arrhythmia, such as family history of sudden cardiac death or evidence of structural heart disease.
Many people are unaware of minor irregular heartbeats, and even completely healthy people have extra or skipped heartbeats once in a while. Palpitations are more common as you age. Usually, these occasional arrhythmias are nothing to worry about.
Palpitations that ease up when you relax, breathe deeply or distract yourself are often anxiety-related. If your heart rate returns to normal once the stressful situation passes, this is another sign that anxiety is the likely cause. Anxiety palpitations typically don't cause chest pain, fainting or extreme fatigue.
Main symptoms
fatigue – you may feel tired most of the time and find exercise exhausting. swollen ankles and legs – this is caused by a build-up of fluid (oedema); it may be better in the morning and get worse later in the day. feeling lightheaded and fainting.
Impacts of a complete blockage
The symptoms – chest pain, tightness, and shortness of breath – can be similar, though. Sometimes, when arteries become completely blocked, a new blood supply develops around the blockage. This new blood supply, called collaterals, won't deliver as much blood to your heart.
High cholesterol often has no symptoms, but when it causes problems, warning signs include chest pain, shortness of breath, numbness or coldness in limbs, unexplained fatigue, dizziness, headaches, leg pain/cramps, yellowish skin deposits (xanthomas), a grey ring around the iris (corneal arcus), and slow-healing sores/ulcers on feet, indicating poor circulation. These signs often point to related conditions like Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD) or heart issues from plaque buildup, but the only sure way to know is a blood test.
Fatigue becomes worrisome when it lasts over two weeks despite rest, significantly impacts daily activities, comes on suddenly without clear cause, or accompanies "red flag" symptoms like unexplained weight loss, shortness of breath, fever, severe pain, unusual bleeding, or heart issues, signaling a need for prompt medical attention for potential underlying conditions like anemia, diabetes, sleep apnea, thyroid problems, or infections.
Consult a GP for advice.
Most people with a terminal illness feel extreme or constant tiredness (fatigue). Try to pace yourself and save your energy for the activities that are most important to you. An occupational therapist may be able to help with equipment at home to reduce the energy needed for daily activities such as showering.