Health

How to Have More Energy

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Strategies for Surviving Psoriatic Arthritis Fatigue

Whether your fatigue is due to your psoriatic arthritis, a treatment you’re taking for it, or a related health condition, try these strategies to help regain some of your energy.

1. Lead a Healthy Lifestyle

You’ll be better able to fight fatigue if you’re eating a varied, healthy diet and avoiding tobacco and alcohol, says Dr. Alexander.

2. Ask for Help

Steyer often asks for rides to events, knowing she will be too tired afterward to drive home safely. Know yourself and ask for help when (or before) you need it.

3. Set Priorities and Honor Your Limits

“I’ve learned to prioritize those things that are most important,” says Steyer, who plans her week with days off between major activities to allow time for recovery. Pay attention to how different activities affect your body and don’t hesitate to set limits for yourself.

4. Stay Physically Active

It may seem counterintuitive, but exercise can actually boost your energy levels and fight fatigue. “If done regularly, exercise increases our body’s natural opiates and provides both energy and improved sleep,” Alexander explains.

The National Psoriasis Foundation notes that according to current guidelines, people with psoriatic arthritis should do some combination of exercise and physical or occupational therapy to help reduce inflammation and improve overall physical function.

5. Balance Activity and Rest

Instead of powering through her to-do list, Steyer breaks up active tasks, such as cleaning, into 10- or 20-minute segments and rests or does easier things in between. This downtime can include activities like browsing the internet, researching treatments and therapies, reading, or doing puzzles with the kids, she says.

6. Educate Yourself About Treatment Options

Getting effective treatment for your psoriatic arthritis that reduces inflammation can be the key to less pain and fatigue, the National Psoriasis Foundation notes. It’s especially important to start treatment as early in the course of your disease as possible, and many people will need to change medications over time to keep symptoms to a minimum.

7. Talk to Your Doctor About Vitamin D

Some studies have shown a correlation between vitamin D deficiency and psoriatic arthritis. People who have a vitamin D deficiency can also experience fatigue as a result of that condition alone.

Talk to your doctor about your risk for vitamin D deficiency, whether you should have your vitamin D level checked, and whether vitamin D supplements might be helpful for you.

8. Explore Alternative Therapies

Many people with psoriatic arthritis benefit from stress reduction techniques like guided relaxation, massage therapy, or acupuncture, which are supported by current treatment guidelines.

9. Talk to Your Doctor About a Healthy Weight for You

For people with psoriatic arthritis who have excess body weight, losing weight can reduce fatigue and other psoriatic arthritis symptoms.

Talk to your doctor about a healthy weight for you and sustainable ways to achieve that weight.

Despite the reality that psoriatic arthritis and fatigue often go hand in hand, you can take steps to put more energy back in your life.

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