CFS Lifestyle and Self-Care Strategies Flashcards
6 cards from real CFS practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 CFS Lifestyle and Self-Care Strategies flashcards as text
What does 'boom and bust cycle' mean in the context of CFS self-management?
Answer: Alternating between overactivity on good days (boom) and crashes (bust) that perpetuate the illness cycle
The boom and bust cycle describes how CFS patients often overexert on relatively good days, triggering a crash (bust), creating a destructive cycle that pacing aims to prevent.
What role do occupational therapists play in CFS management?
Answer: They help CFS patients adapt daily activities, conserve energy, and implement pacing strategies in real life
Occupational therapists help CFS patients adapt daily activities, develop energy conservation strategies, and implement pacing in practical, real-life contexts.
What is 'cognitive pacing' in CFS management?
Answer: Managing mental and cognitive activities within energy limits, as cognitive exertion can also trigger PEM
Cognitive pacing involves managing mental activities like reading, screen time, and problem-solving within energy limits, because cognitive exertion can trigger PEM just as physical exertion can.
Why is temperature regulation challenging for many CFS patients?
Answer: Autonomic dysfunction in CFS impairs the body's ability to regulate temperature, causing heat and cold intolerance
Autonomic dysfunction in CFS impairs normal temperature regulation, leading many patients to experience heat and cold intolerance and difficulty maintaining comfortable body temperature.
What is the importance of having a healthcare team familiar with CFS for self-care planning?
Answer: CFS-knowledgeable providers can create personalized pacing plans, avoid harmful recommendations, and address comorbidities appropriately
Having CFS-knowledgeable healthcare providers ensures that self-care plans are appropriate, harmful recommendations like aggressive exercise are avoided, and comorbidities are properly managed.
What communication strategy is recommended for CFS patients when explaining their illness to others?
Answer: Use concrete language about functional limitations and avoid minimizing symptoms to ensure appropriate support
Using concrete language about specific functional limitations, rather than vague statements, helps CFS patients communicate their needs clearly and avoid having their illness minimized by others.