Chronic Exhaustion in CLL: Causes and Management Tips
Posted on by
Tips for Conserving Energy
“Managing your overall health and CLL can help improve fatigue,” says Wilson. “In some cases, CLL treatment may help reduce fatigue, when it is related to the disease itself.”
Several other strategies may improve cancer-related fatigue.
Keep a Diary
It may be helpful to track when you feel the most fatigued and when you’re feeling more energetic. You can note which activities make you the most tired and which ones boost your energy. If you’re receiving treatment, observe when you have the most energy or fatigue as related to your treatment cycles. Maintaining a diary can help you plan activities around the times when you feel the most energized.
Optimize Sleep Quality
As much as possible, maintain a regular sleep schedule. “Aim for seven to eight hours of sleep per night, and go to bed and get up at the same times,” says Heyman. He also advises skipping caffeine after midafternoon and not exercising late in the evening.
It is okay to nap if you’re tired, but try to limit naps to one per day and not longer than 20 minutes. Too much daytime sleeping can interfere with nighttime rest.
You should also set up your bedroom for better sleep, by keeping it cool and quiet. Limit screen time and any other stimulating activities for at least an hour before bed. Alternatively, listening to soft music or reading in bed will encourage relaxation and may make you sleepy.
Pace Yourself
When you’re low on energy, even ordinary tasks like cooking or cleaning may seem overwhelming. Take short rest breaks throughout the day, or even a short nap, and don’t push yourself too hard. “Avoid overdoing it on days when you have more energy,” says Wilson, “as this can lead to increased fatigue later.”
Prioritizing your daily tasks will help ensure that you accomplish what’s most important. “Sometimes people feel like they have more energy in the morning, but some will feel like they have more energy in the afternoon,” says Huang. “The key is getting in tune with one’s body and observing when you feel your best, and then trying to prioritize important tasks during that period of time.”
Exercise
It may sound counterintuitive to expend energy when you’re tired, but keeping active can give you a tremendous boost. Studies have consistently shown exercise to be beneficial for improving energy levels and reducing cancer-related fatigue. Exercise can also improve mood and sleep quality.
Your healthcare team can help you develop a personalized exercise plan. You may start with light activities such as walking, swimming, or yoga, or simply finding ways to move more as you go about your day.
“When I talk to patients about increasing physical activity, I’m not talking about running a marathon,” says Huang. “It can be just taking a 20-minute walk once a day, or maybe doing a 10-minute walk in the morning, then another 10-minute walk in the afternoon. Sometimes breaking up the physical activity makes it more manageable.”
Pay Attention to What You Eat and Drink
Good nutrition is important for your overall health and healing, and it’s essential for restoring energy. General rules of thumb are to prioritize whole grains, lean proteins, fruits, and vegetables and to limit processed foods and sugar-laden products.
Staying hydrated is also important, as dehydration can make you feel even more tired. Try to drink plenty of water throughout the day.
A dietitian can also provide advice tailored to your individual situation and preferences, especially if you’re dealing with appetite or digestive issues related to your treatment.
Complementary Options
Some dietary supplements may also be beneficial, such as those containing ginseng, which has been shown to relieve fatigue in small studies.
Discuss the use of complementary therapies with your healthcare team, especially if you want to try supplements. Some products may interfere with cancer treatment.
The study did not find that time in nature was directly linked to eating more intuitively. Instead, the connection between the two worked indirectly, via […]
Credit: Picture produced by the content group using AI for illustratory objectives. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is estimated to impact 3 9 % of the […]
