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What Causes Disorientation, Exhaustion And Headache?
Question: My dad was having some problems last night. His symptoms included racing heart, disorientation, exhaustion, and headache. He woke up with the same headache this morning. He just had an appointment with his doctor last Tuesday and they ran a bunch of tests and everything looked fine with his heart and sugar and everything. But I talked to a nurse friend who said the first thing that came to her mind was heart disease/heart failure, which actually runs in our family on his side. My paternal Grandfather died of heart disease. My dad is 50 years old, about 6 ft, maybe 300 lbs, I'm not positive. Do you think it could be a heart issue even though he just got checked out last week and was fine? What should he do?
Brief Answer:
You should first rule out high BP
Detailed Answer:
Hello! Thank you for your question on HCM! Regarding your dad's complains (headache, exhaustion, racing heart, disorientation) the first suspicion that should be elucidated is about high blood pressure. Hypertension is a very frequent finding in overweighted and obese persons such as your father.
The question is now: Did you check his Blood Pressure last night and in the morning when dad experienced those complains?
Does your father take antihypertensive drugs and if so, does he forget to take them sometimes?
Does he usually have heavy drinks? What about his lifestyle and daily regimen? All these questions help to confirm the possibility of high BP.
Regarding heart failure it is more easily identified, the main complain is shortness of breathing (dyspnoea) and when it is present for a much longer time appears edema in lower part of the body (legs edema). Heart failure would be identified by his doctor a week ago. Blood pressure sometimes is difficult to identify at the doctor office as it is a dynamic and often fluctuating parameter.
So have a look to his blood pressure frequently, if you notice abnormal high value (greater than 140/90 mmHg) then consult you GP for a possible therapy.
If your dad's complains persist despite normal BP values, or even after controlling hypertension, then your father must consult a neurologist for a physiological exam. In this last case headache and others could express neurological problems.
Hope to have been helpful to you! Greetings from Dr. Iliri
You should first rule out high BP
Detailed Answer:
Hello! Thank you for your question on HCM! Regarding your dad's complains (headache, exhaustion, racing heart, disorientation) the first suspicion that should be elucidated is about high blood pressure. Hypertension is a very frequent finding in overweighted and obese persons such as your father.
The question is now: Did you check his Blood Pressure last night and in the morning when dad experienced those complains?
Does your father take antihypertensive drugs and if so, does he forget to take them sometimes?
Does he usually have heavy drinks? What about his lifestyle and daily regimen? All these questions help to confirm the possibility of high BP.
Regarding heart failure it is more easily identified, the main complain is shortness of breathing (dyspnoea) and when it is present for a much longer time appears edema in lower part of the body (legs edema). Heart failure would be identified by his doctor a week ago. Blood pressure sometimes is difficult to identify at the doctor office as it is a dynamic and often fluctuating parameter.
So have a look to his blood pressure frequently, if you notice abnormal high value (greater than 140/90 mmHg) then consult you GP for a possible therapy.
If your dad's complains persist despite normal BP values, or even after controlling hypertension, then your father must consult a neurologist for a physiological exam. In this last case headache and others could express neurological problems.
Hope to have been helpful to you! Greetings from Dr. Iliri
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Raju A.T
Hey there! No we didn’t check his blood pressure. We actually didn’t even think of that. Dad is not a drinker. He may have a beer or two a week but usually it’s none. If he buys a 12 pack, they skunk before he can drink them. That’s how little he drinks. He works all the time. We was working out but we all got in an accident back in November in which he broke his back. So he hasn’t done any working out since then since we are all still healing. He does take antihypertensive drugs and he very rarely forgets to take them.
Brief Answer:
Antihypertensive dose adjustment may be needed
Detailed Answer:
Hello again! I am sorry to hear what happened to your father. As I said before you should check frequently his BP and to refer the measured values to the doctor. Probably your dad needs drug dose adjustment to control his high BP.
From the other side your dad is obese and unfortunately is not physically active after the accident. So discuss also for the risk of vein thrombosis and embolism with his doctor. Dad may need temporarily prophylaxis for vein thrombosis.
My best wishes for you and your father! Dr. Iliri
Antihypertensive dose adjustment may be needed
Detailed Answer:
Hello again! I am sorry to hear what happened to your father. As I said before you should check frequently his BP and to refer the measured values to the doctor. Probably your dad needs drug dose adjustment to control his high BP.
From the other side your dad is obese and unfortunately is not physically active after the accident. So discuss also for the risk of vein thrombosis and embolism with his doctor. Dad may need temporarily prophylaxis for vein thrombosis.
My best wishes for you and your father! Dr. Iliri
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Yogesh D
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