title: Fatigue a major problem for patients following myocardial infarction.
abstract: Patients with chronic disease often rate fatigue as one of the key factors leading to a decrease in their quality of life. This qualitative study found 'incomprehensible fatigue' to be a feature of life for some patients after myocardial infarction (MI). Participants said the tiredness was different from the normal feeling of tiredness that they were familiar with before their MI. Bodily factors (weakness and extreme exhaustion), cognitive and emotional sensations were all involved. One participant said: 'I feel like an empty balloon.'