How MS Messes with Speech

One frustrating symptom of multiple sclerosis (MS) is the cognitive impact. Those of us with MS often struggle with memory, recall, and speech. When words vanish, we get creative in communicating! 

MultipleSclerosis.net posted the following prompt to the community:

“MS can mess with our word recall and speech function, making remembering the names of people, places, and things difficult. If only there was 1 word for it all. We want to know, what would your word be? Example: ‘Can you please hand me the _____ over there?’ Philadelphia natives might throw the word ‘jawn’ in there!”

There was a lot of engagement with this topic!

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Team MSAA and runDisney Participant Highlight: Tiffany McCahill 

Completing a 10k endurance event last year wasn’t enough for Team MSAA participant Tiffany McCahill. She’s doing it again, but this time raising the bar and taking on the half marathon!  

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Staycation Tips and Tricks: Relax, Explore, and Enjoy Your Own Backyard

Staycations, or vacations spent at home or nearby, can be both enjoyable and cost-effective. While they are often perceived as lacking adventure or being boring, this is far from the truth. Staycations can offer unique experiences full of discovery and exploration. A well-planned staycation can be convenient, creative, and can save both stress and money.

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Consejos y trucos para las vacaciones en casa: relájese, explore y disfrute cerca de su propio hogar

Las vacaciones en casa o cerca de casa pueden ser agradables y económicas. Aunque a menudo se considera que carecen de aventura o son aburridas, no es así. Las vacaciones en casa pueden ofrecer experiencias únicas llenas de aventura. Unas vacaciones en casa bien planeadas pueden ser prácticas, creativas y ahorrarnos estrés y dinero.

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The AC Staycation

As I’ve mentioned in previous posts, I’m a single mom of two young boys (5 & 6) and we live in St. Augustine, FL. It’s hot here. Really hot. Typically, May through October are well into the 90s, and bouncing from one airconditioned space to another is essential even for my non-MSers brethren. To be fair, I like to escape north to the Blue Ridge Mountains when I can, but that only happens once or twice a summer, so I’ve had to get creative on how to spend all of that indoor time. I’m not great at generalizing how I think you should fill your time, so I’ve decided to list out a few things I’ve found to be highly enjoyable as an artsy nerd mom.

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Beat the Heat While Staying Active

Summer brings longer days and the perfect opportunity to enjoy outdoor activities. However, the heat can be a challenge, making it essential to find ways to stay active while remaining safe. Here are some tips to help you make the most of your summer workouts:

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Stay Active and Keep Your Cool

As the summer heat continues to rise, staying active can be challenging, especially for those managing a chronic health condition like multiple sclerosis (MS). Personally, this summer has felt particularly hot. While staying active is crucial for our health, how can one exercise and keep moving when all they want to do is stay indoors and lie down in front of the fan? Here are some tips to help you remain active and thrive during the summer months:

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Manténgase activo y fresco

Mantenerse activo puede ser un reto a medida que aumenta el calor del verano, especialmente para quienes padecen una enfermedad crónica como la esclerosis múltiple (EM). Personalmente, este verano ha sido particularmente caluroso. Aunque mantenerse activo es fundamental para nuestra salud, ¿cómo puedo hacer ejercicio y mantenerme activo cuando lo único que quiero hacer es quedarme en casa y acostarme frente al ventilador? A continuación, le ofrezco algunos consejos que le ayudarán a mantenerse activo durante el verano:

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Surviving Summer

This summer has been incredibly hot across the nation. Possibly due to global warming. Heat waves have been unusually common this year. Staying active in summer can be a challenging task but there are ways you can beat the heat. With some of the tips below, these tips may ensure you are able to continue with your daily routines and exercise regimes. 

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Keep Moving

By: Stacie Prada

If you can’t run, then walk, if you can’t walk then crawl, stretch, or flex. Just keep moving.

Living an active lifestyle can be a challenge in the best of circumstances. Add living with multiple sclerosis symptoms such as fatigue, foot drop, and heat sensitivity, and it’s generally frustrating and takes more effort to stay motivated. Factor in adverse weather conditions, and it’s a huge undertaking to override the urge to be sedentary.

With MS, it’s common for symptoms to act up when the body temperature increases. That’s why hot weather is one of the many obstacles to staying active. When I was still learning how MS affected my body, it was scary when a jog led to body numbness from the neck down and an inability to control my feet reliably. Over time, I learned to differentiate between heat and exertion-induced pseudo-exacerbations that would subside within an hour or so after I cooled down and disease-progressing exacerbations that last much longer.

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