Manténgase activo y fresco

Posted on July 29, 2024 by Claudia Chavez

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

Posted on July 24, 2024 by Teena Palathanam

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

Posted on July 22, 2024 by MSAA

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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Remaining Active in the Summer Heat

Posted on July 19, 2024 by Alexa Moreno

Exercise and staying active has so many benefits such as improved mental health and wellbeing. However, for many, the extreme summer weather we have been experiencing can make it hard to stay active. Heat sensitivity is a common problem among people with multiple sclerosis, often aggravating common symptoms.

Here are helpful tips on ways to keep your body cool and remain active this summer!

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To Drive or Not to Drive With MS

Posted on July 8, 2024 by MultipleSclerosis.net

Living with multiple sclerosis (MS) changes many things in life. The impact of symptoms on the body makes certain tasks more difficult. For example, driving becomes more challenging as MS progresses.

We recently asked the MultipleSclerosis.net community, “Has MS altered your driving habits?”

There were many insightful replies about how MS impacts whether and how a person continues driving. Some respondents still drive, and others do not. Here is some of the community’s perspective in their own words.

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Thriving with MS: Prioritizing, Budgeting and Community Engagement

Posted on June 28, 2024 by Courtney Merker

Living with multiple sclerosis has its obstacles, but with a hopeful attitude, resourcefulness, and a strong support system, you can navigate these obstacles more effectively. Prioritizing your needs, budgeting wisely and cultivating a robust community are crucial elements in managing life with MS.

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Ask the Expert: Urinary Tract Infections

Posted on June 27, 2024 by MSAA

Featuring Barry A. Hendin, MD

MSAA’s Chief Medical Officer

Barry Hendin, MD

Question: Are urinary tract infections (UTIs) more common in MS, and what are the symptoms and treatments?

Answer: Yes, urinary tract infections are more common in people with MS. Multiple sclerosis is often associated with bladder dysfunction and bladder dysfunction is often associated with urinary tract infections. The most common bladder problem associated with infections is urinary retention, which is incomplete emptying of the bladder. This creates an ideal incubator for bacteria to grow. Patients who catheterize may also be at an increased risk, particularly if not careful with their bladder technique.

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Seeking Hope

Posted on June 26, 2024 by MSAA

By: Stacie Prada

Finding my new normal was my initial goal when I was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. I didn’t know what I’d need to know to live well with MS, but I held faith that I would learn what I could when I was ready. My hope was to live as well as possible with MS. Both faith and hope are deeply reliant on me to do what I can.

The fact is I’ve had periods of holding it together, phases hoping to come out of a lot of MS symptoms, and moments where I feel like I’m rocking this life and doing fabulously.

Early in my diagnosis, I sought out every resource I could find. I read all the books related to MS in the local library, I joined the local MS Self-Help group, and I followed my neurologist’s advice. I monitored my symptoms and tried to make sense of a confusing and inconsistent illness. I searched the internet to learn all I could about MS and what helps. My health was a project to solve, and I treated it like a second full-time job. The urgency to figure out what could help was stressful, but I think it was a necessary phase of adjusting to life with a chronic illness. All of these efforts helped me become more hopeful.

Scientific studies conclude those of us living with chronic illness have a better quality of life when we have hope. When we’re optimistic, we believe our efforts can make a difference. Having hope helps combat stress and anxiety.

When lacking hope or feeling pessimistic, we’re less likely to think our efforts matter. Either way, what we believe matters for our mental and physical health when dealing with adversity.

We can’t fully control or count on a constant level of hope. Accepting our highs and lows as normal can help ease some of the stress of living with MS. Monitoring our mood and stress level can help us notice when we’re feeling less hopeful. What we need in those times differs for each of us, and they vary depending on what’s challenging us at that moment.

What do I need, and what might help? Sometimes I need to research the symptoms that are challenging me, and others I need to talk to someone who will listen. Some moments benefit from taking a breath, stretching, and looking inward. Other moments are best served by looking outward and thinking about something other than myself. Each moment’s feeling is unique, and each needs its own plan of action. My not-so-new normal is only consistent for seeking hope and accepting the path is always changing.

*Stacie Prada was diagnosed with RRMS in 2008 just shy of 38 years old. Her blog, “Keep Doing What You’re Doing” is a compilation of inspiration, exploration, and practical tips for living with Multiple Sclerosis while living a full, productive, and healthy life with a positive perspective. It includes musings on things that help her adapt, cope and enjoy in this adventure on earth. Please visit her at http://stacieprada.blogspot.com/

Remaining Resourceful Through Community Support

Posted on June 21, 2024 by Alexa Moreno

It can be overwhelming managing doctor’s appointments, bills, medications, and all the many responsibilities that come with managing multiple sclerosis. However, prioritizing and strategizing tasks can help manage the stressors of it all to not feel so daunting.

First, prioritize the necessities. I like to think of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs when feeling overwhelmed with what needs to be prioritized. Food, necessary medications, rent/mortgage, and basic utilities always come first.