Avoiding a Summer MS Meltdown
When you have multiple sclerosis (MS), high temperatures and sticky humidity can spell trouble. Have some fun in the sun, and you may find that symptoms like excessive fatigue, blurred vision, loss of balance, and tingling feet return, says Matthew McCoyd, MD, a neurologist and assistant professor at Loyola Medicine in Maywood, Illinois. The good news: The effect of the heat is temporary, he says, so “cool off, and you’ll most likely feel better.” Here’s how hot weather affects MS — and some tips for beating the heat and enjoying summer.
In MS, heat can damage the myelin — think of it as protective insulation — that wraps around the nerves of the central nervous system, triggering symptoms, according to Michelle Cameron, MD, PT, an assistant professor in neurology at Oregon Health and Science University in Portland and a neurologist at the VA Portland Health Care System. As a result, the nerves don’t function as well. “Even a little bit of heat can exacerbate this dysfunction,” Dr. Cameron says. That doesn’t mean you have to miss out on the sun and the warm weather altogether — but it’s best to avoid getting overheated.
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