Post-stroke fatigue is a common symptom amongst stroke survivors, yet is often neglected in post-stroke care, according to a State-of-the-Science Nursing Review published Aug. 11 in Stroke. The review found that nursing interventions and educational programs may prove beneficial when caring for these patients.

Post-stroke fatigue is categorized by fatigue, lack of energy or an increased need to rest in the time following a stroke. Causes for nurses to look out for include hypotension, arrhythmia, edema, diabetes mellitus, heart failure and anemia. In addition, nurses should assess patients’ prescriptions for any drugs that may cause fatigue or sleep disturbances.

Nurses can help patients manage post-stroke fatigue by recommending physical activity, such as walking and water aerobics, as well as providing patients with general stroke education and a fatigue management program. Pharmacological interventions, such as treatments for fatigue, may also prove beneficial to patients with post-stroke fatigue.

The authors further note that “a combination of cognitive-behavioral therapy and graded activity training, and cognitive-behavioral therapy with mindfulness techniques seem to be effective in alleviating [post-stroke fatigue].” 

Keywords: Anemia, Arrhythmias, Cardiac, Cognition, Diabetes Mellitus, Edema, Fatigue, Heart Failure, Hypotension, Sleep Wake Disorders, Stroke

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