What Causes an MS Flare-Up?
Multiple sclerosis (MS) flare-ups have common triggers. Preparation for them can help lower your chance of getting one.
With relapsing-remitting MS, flare-ups can bring new symptoms or make ones you already have worse. They come on suddenly over 24 hours and get better slowly over weeks or months. They may never totally go away.
These happen because part of your central nervous system gets inflamed. The inflammation slows or disrupts nerve signals. That brings things like numbness, pain, and dizziness.
What triggers a flare-up is different from person to person. Most of the time, a cause cannot be found. Still, to lower your chance of a flare-up, do your best to avoid the things that make them more likely for you. For example:
CONTINUE READING BELOW
Stress
It’s a part of life, but doing what you can to manage it can lower your chance of a relapse. Meditation, yoga, and counseling are all ways to lower stress and better equip yourself to handle it. In one study, MS patients reported their stress level cut nearly in half after 6 weeks of yoga.
Fatigue
Lack of sleep can bring a flare-up. Making sleep a priority will help lower your chance of symptoms. Try to get 7-8 hours each night.
Heat
High temperatures may trigger a relapse. If you’re one of those people affected by warm surroundings, you should skip saunas, hot tubs, and hot showers and baths. Most of the time hot weather causes fatigue. Also, do what you can to avoid being outdoors on hot days.
A cool bath and air conditioning are two things that can help. Special hats or clothes that hold ice packs or frozen gel packs can also keep you comfortable. There are also special vests that use a motorized system to circulate cold water around the body. If you have an exercise goal, divide the time you exercise into smaller segments, with rest after each one.
Infections
They cause a third of MS flare-ups. To lower your risk:
- Wash your hands.
- Do what you can to avoid people who are ill.
- Make sure food you eat is fully cooked.
- Practice safe sex.
- Get your annual flu shot.
Even minor infections like the cold or flu can trigger a flare-up.
If you have an infection, treat it early.
Diet
Eat foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids. They’re believed to fight inflammation. Also, get plenty of fiber and stay away from foods with saturated and trans fats.
A healthy diet helps keep your immune system strong.
Medications
Skipping your MS medicine can increase your risk for a flare-up. One study found about 25% of MS patients who stopped taking their medications suffered a relapse. Certain medications for Crohn’s disease or rheumatoid arthritis may cause MS-like symptoms. So can drug interactions.
Check with your doctor to see if there are medications you’re taking that could be interacting with one another.
Smoking
Smoking is a major risk factor for flare-ups. Stop and you’ll lower your chances of them. Your doctor can help you figure out a game plan.
মন্তব্যসমূহ
একটি মন্তব্য পোস্ট করুন