This article was selected as a need to know for those affetced by MS
by Lori Mayer, DNP, MSN, RN, MSCN
Why is this important to me?
MS is a chronic disease that is typically diagnosed in early adulthood and lasts for decades. Symptoms are different in each person and change over time. Symptom management and lifestyle modification can improve symptoms and lead to a healthier and longer life.
Who will benefit from reading this study/article?
This article addresses a variety of symptoms, and thus, all people with MS will benefit from reading this article.
What is the objective of this study?
Symptoms of MS may produce a variety of levels of discomfort, pain, and disability and may decrease quality of life and interfere with activities of daily living. Managing your symptoms will improve your overall health and well-being. Managing your symptoms accompanies the use of disease-modifying therapies and is just as important. Because you may experience more than one symptom and because symptoms change over time, you should periodically review your symptoms with your healthcare provider to determine which symptoms concern you most. It is also important to be aware that certain symptoms may simultaneously present, and therefore become more intensified. For example, pain, spasticity, and gait problems may occur together. The following symptoms are common in MS and can be effectively managed:
Fatigue: Fatigue can affect employment, quality of life, and cognitive abilities. By addressing those things that tend to cause fatigue, a healthcare provider can often assist at reducing fatigue levels. Fatigue may also be reduced with exercise, strategies to conserve energy, and behavioral and drug therapy.
Sensory problems: These include numbness and pain. Pain, which may cluster with cognitive problems, can be neuropathic (caused by damage to the nervous system), inflammatory, secondary to other MS problems, or unrelated to MS. Treatment is guided by the cause of pain.
Cognitive problems: These problems typically occur later in MS and include difficulties with information-processing speed, memory, and executive function (planning, attention, managing multiple tasks, etc.). Cognitive problems can affect employment, activities of daily living, and adherence to prescribed medications and rehabilitation activities. Treatment involves ruling out other factors that affect cognition and then creating a coping plan that may involve behavioral therapy, physical and mental exercise, and drug therapy.
Mood disorders: Major depressive disorder and anxiety are common and occur early in the disease course. Therapy may include drug treatment, psychotherapy, and exercise.
Bladder problems: These are common in later stages of MS and can lead to social isolation. Treatments include proper hydration, antibiotics, bladder training, medication, nerve stimulation, and sometimes catheterization, which are all aimed at achieving continence, improving quality of life, preventing infection, and protecting the kidneys.
Spasticity: Spasticity can cause pain, posture problems, limited mobility, and other problems. Management of spasticity includes physical therapy and certain medications.
Modifying your lifestyle choices to achieve wellness and reduce vascular risk factors is important for everyone, especially those with a neurological disease such as MS, because such modifications can improve brain health. Brain weight and volume change over time in everyone, however, the loss of brain volume occurs faster in people with MS. Proper diet, exercise, and avoiding smoking contribute to better brain health and are particularly important if you have MS. The following lifestyle considerations are important:Weight: Obesity creates chronic, low-grade inflammation and can cause some degree of damage to the brain. Thus, maintaining optimal body weight if you have MS is important.
Smoking and alcohol use: Tobacco use can decrease the effectiveness of some MS drugs. More studies are needed to understand the interaction between alcohol use and MS, but if you have MS, you are urged to not smoke or consume excessive amounts of alcohol.
Vitamin D: Low vitamin D is a risk factor for developing MS. Vitamin D supplements can be useful.
by Lori Mayer, DNP, MSN, RN, MSCN
Why is this important to me?
MS is a chronic disease that is typically diagnosed in early adulthood and lasts for decades. Symptoms are different in each person and change over time. Symptom management and lifestyle modification can improve symptoms and lead to a healthier and longer life.
Who will benefit from reading this study/article?
This article addresses a variety of symptoms, and thus, all people with MS will benefit from reading this article.
What is the objective of this study?
Symptoms of MS may produce a variety of levels of discomfort, pain, and disability and may decrease quality of life and interfere with activities of daily living. Managing your symptoms will improve your overall health and well-being. Managing your symptoms accompanies the use of disease-modifying therapies and is just as important. Because you may experience more than one symptom and because symptoms change over time, you should periodically review your symptoms with your healthcare provider to determine which symptoms concern you most. It is also important to be aware that certain symptoms may simultaneously present, and therefore become more intensified. For example, pain, spasticity, and gait problems may occur together. The following symptoms are common in MS and can be effectively managed:
Fatigue: Fatigue can affect employment, quality of life, and cognitive abilities. By addressing those things that tend to cause fatigue, a healthcare provider can often assist at reducing fatigue levels. Fatigue may also be reduced with exercise, strategies to conserve energy, and behavioral and drug therapy.
Sensory problems: These include numbness and pain. Pain, which may cluster with cognitive problems, can be neuropathic (caused by damage to the nervous system), inflammatory, secondary to other MS problems, or unrelated to MS. Treatment is guided by the cause of pain.
Cognitive problems: These problems typically occur later in MS and include difficulties with information-processing speed, memory, and executive function (planning, attention, managing multiple tasks, etc.). Cognitive problems can affect employment, activities of daily living, and adherence to prescribed medications and rehabilitation activities. Treatment involves ruling out other factors that affect cognition and then creating a coping plan that may involve behavioral therapy, physical and mental exercise, and drug therapy.
Mood disorders: Major depressive disorder and anxiety are common and occur early in the disease course. Therapy may include drug treatment, psychotherapy, and exercise.
Bladder problems: These are common in later stages of MS and can lead to social isolation. Treatments include proper hydration, antibiotics, bladder training, medication, nerve stimulation, and sometimes catheterization, which are all aimed at achieving continence, improving quality of life, preventing infection, and protecting the kidneys.
Spasticity: Spasticity can cause pain, posture problems, limited mobility, and other problems. Management of spasticity includes physical therapy and certain medications.
Modifying your lifestyle choices to achieve wellness and reduce vascular risk factors is important for everyone, especially those with a neurological disease such as MS, because such modifications can improve brain health. Brain weight and volume change over time in everyone, however, the loss of brain volume occurs faster in people with MS. Proper diet, exercise, and avoiding smoking contribute to better brain health and are particularly important if you have MS. The following lifestyle considerations are important:
- Diet: The digestive system contains many types of helpful bacteria. The bacterial make-up of your digestive system is influenced by what you eat, vitamin D, smoking, and alcohol consumption. A healthy diet that includes vegetables, fish, vitamins A and D, and certain elements is anti-inflammatory and leads to the presence of healthy bacteria in your digestive system. In contrast, unhealthy fats, red meat, high salt, and high sugar can increase inflammation and have a harmful effect on gut bacteria. Thus, consuming a healthy diet creates a state of healthy bacteria and low inflammation that will benefit brain health. A healthy diet is especially important if you have MS.
- Exercise: Exercise improves many MS symptoms, and people with MS should exercise a few times a week if possible.
- Sleep: Sleep disorders are common in MS and can cause fatigue. Good quality sleep is important for brain health, especially if you have MS.
- Temperature control: MS symptoms can worsen in hot or humid weather, and thus, temperature control can improve MS symptoms.
- Stress: People with MS appear to respond abnormally to stress. Although stress cannot be completely eliminated, steps to reduce stress will benefit you if you have MS.
- Medical marijuana: Medical marijuana may improve some MS symptoms. This topic is controversial, and more studies are needed to assess the risks and benefits.
- Mental and social engagement: If you have MS, you should try to be mentally and socially active, which may improve brain health.
- Vascular risk factors: Heart disease, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes negatively impact brain health and should be identified and treated if you have MS.
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