When you’ve got a heart condition, it’s not unusual to feel tired.
While it may be tempting to reach for quick-fix, energy-rich drinks, snacks, and supplements, here are 6 longer-lasting ways to boost your energy.
1. Speak to your doctor
Heart conditions such as heart failurecan cause fatigue, as can diabetes, sleep apnoea, an underactive thyroid, or anaemia. Some medications, such as beta blockers, can also cause tiredness as a side effect.
So, if you’re feeling more fatigued than normal, it’s a good idea to ask your GP or cardiologist about it.
2. Get moving
When you’re tired, the last thing you might feel like doing is getting up and about. But exercising or physical activities such as a short walk or doing housework help more oxygen-rich blood move around your body, giving you an energy boost.
Exercise often helps you sleep more soundly later too. And, in the long run regular exercise or movement improves your body’s strength and endurance so daily tasks become easier. Build up what you do gradually and check with a doctor before starting any new exercise.
Want to get fit and healthy?
Sign up to our fortnightly Heart Matters newsletter to receive healthy recipes, new activity ideas, and expert tips for managing your health. Joining is free and takes two minutes.
I’d like to sign-up3. Eat 'slow-release' foods
Getting enough food and eating regular meals will help you to feel like you have enough energy to keep you going throughout the day.
Choose wholegrain and high fibre foods. These take longer for your body to digest, so the energy in them is released in a gradual, steady way, unlike sugary foods and drinks that are broken down more quickly.
4. Drink enough water
You might be feeling sluggish simply because you’re mildly dehydrated. Studies suggest that being dehydrated by just two percent can affect how well you focus, think and remember.
The NHS recommends drinking six to eight cups of fluid a day for general health. Be sure to avoid too many sugary drinks such as fruit juices, fizzy drinks and alcohol. If you don’t like plain water, you could flavour it with fruit tea, a slice of lemon, or some no-added-sugar squash.
5. Manage your mood
Stress, anxiety, or depressioncan all make you feel tired. Consider mood-improving activities, such as:
- yoga, meditation, or listening to music
- finding ways to reduce your workload at home or at your job
- chatting to family or friends about your feelings
- speaking to your GP about talking therapiesor self-referring.
6. Get enough sleep
Perhaps the most obvious cause of tiredness, but sometimes a tricky one to change, is a lack of sleep.
Tips for improving your sleep include going to bed at the same time every day, avoiding naps in the daytime, and building in time to relax before you go to bed.
Tried this at home?
Have you tried one of these tips? Do you have other recommendations?Email your thoughts and any photos for a chance to be featured in the next magazine.
What to read next...
6 ways to make exercise more enjoyable
Published April 2023
