“Rising Heat, Rising Problems”
June 11, 2012
Summer is here. Temperatures are rising, and so are our frustrations since heat causes MS symptoms to go crazy. Throw in humidity, and the effect become worse.
Strength and endurance is reduced; fatigue is increased. Numbing and tingling sensations are compounded, knees buckle, hanging onto furniture and walls are necessary as coordination and balance worsen.
Why is that?
Because heat slows down the conduction of nerve impulses in all people, but is particularly troublesome for MSers. When a person without MS gets out of a hot Jacuzzi or sauna, they move much more slowly. By comparison, a person with MS might not be able to walk or stand at all.
Heat caused by weather is not the only culprit. ANY kind of heat has an adverse affect on MS symptoms– fever, room temperature, over-activity, hot flashes, being in the sun too long, etc.
So what can we do? Speed up the conduction of those nerves by getting and staying cool.
Ice packs are a favorite of mine; I put them behind my neck, my back, or rub them all over me. I carry them with me in a little six-pack cooler if I’m at an outing on a hot day. Taking a frozen plastic bottle of water in the car doubles as an ice pack and ice water at the same time. Air conditioning is a must. Some people use cooling vests. Sit in front of a fan.
Cold ice water and showers are very effective in bringing body temperature down rapidly when overheated. One can go from not walking to walking in a matter of minutes.
Want to sit in the sun to get some vitamin D? Not a problem—just have a spray bottle with ice water in it to mist yourself, stick an ice pack behind your spine, and drink cold beverages. Make sure you use a sun block to not only protect your skin but to also prevent sunburn; sunburn will really raise your body temperature until your skin heals.
Another tip: a common side effect of bladder medications for some people reduces sweating. So if you are in the sun or someplace with high temperatures, you will overheat faster.
While dealing with heat is troublesome, there is a bit of good news about Heat & MS that should always be remembered:
Although, heat definitely aggravates the nervous system and will cause symptoms to intensify, heat will not cause a flare-up or attack.
Watch my video about Heat & MS for a live explanation and demonstration–
http://bit.ly/KecZ84