The general advice is to drink around one and a half to two litres, or six to eight glasses, of liquid per day. If plain water seems too boring, you could try sparkling water instead or add a slice of lemon or lime. Many people enjoy caffeinated drinks such as coca cola, coffee and tea.
For people with multiple sclerosis, it's particularly important. Staying hydrated helps control bladder and bowel symptoms, and may help decrease injection site reactions and medication side effects. Dehydration can contribute to fatigue and cognitive impairment. Clearly, good hydration matters.
Bladder dysfunction is common in MS, and some patients manage their bladder dysfunction by limiting fluid intake, which could explain the dehydration in some cases.
If you do decide to enjoy an occasional glass of wine or beer, know that it could ramp up certain symptoms of MS. Even one drink can make issues like unsteadiness worse. “If you have a lot of trouble with balance, thinking, or memory symptoms from MS, it may be better to avoid alcohol altogether,” says Graves.
The general advice is to drink around one and a half to two litres, or six to eight glasses, of liquid per day. If plain water seems too boring, you could try sparkling water instead or add a slice of lemon or lime. Many people enjoy caffeinated drinks such as coca cola, coffee and tea.
Dairy and MS. Overcoming MS strongly recommends that people with MS avoid dairy in their diet because research shows a high correlation between MS and dairy products, because of the high saturated fat content, and specific proteins in cow's milk.
But no one knows exactly what triggers the immune system to attack the central nervous system. Most experts believe it occurs when a person with a genetic predisposition to MS is exposed to certain environmental conditions, such as a low vitamin D level, smoking, or the Epstein-Barr virus.
An elevated temperature further impairs the ability of a demyelinated nerve to conduct electrical impulses. Activities including sunbathing, exercise, and taking very hot showers or baths can have the same effect.
Understanding what can cause your MS to worsen will help you and your health care provider devise strategies to avoid setting off a flare-up. Multiple sclerosis (MS) triggers that worsen symptoms or cause a relapse can include stress, heart disease and smoking.
Stress Impacts All Health Conditions, Including MS
“I don't know of a single medical condition that is not adversely affected by stress, and there is evidence that stress can worsen the symptoms and the disease of MS,” says Robert Fox, MD, a neurologist at the Mellen Center for Multiple Sclerosis at Cleveland Clinic.
We separate them into primary fatigue and secondary fatigue. Primary fatigue is caused by MS damage in the brain and spinal cord. And lots of processes might be involved. One idea from researchers is that passing messages around nerve damage takes extra energy.
Exercise strengthens the muscles that help you walk. It also eases fatigue, boosts mood, and improves quality of life in people with MS. There's even some evidence that strength training might help slow MS damage in the brain. An exercise program for MS includes 150 minutes of "aerobics" each week.
My brain goes fuzzy, I can't think clearly, my speech slurs and my eyesight goes. Swallowing becomes more difficult, my balance gets worse and my legs feel heavy and clumsy. Unlike the limits of normal, everyday tiredness, which may give a little when pushed against, MS fatigue can feel like a barrier.
Disease Course of MS Is Unpredictable
A person with benign MS will have few symptoms or loss of ability after having MS for about 15 years, while most people with MS would be expected to have some degree of disability after that amount of time, particularly if their MS went untreated.
Multiple sclerosis is caused by your immune system mistakenly attacking the brain and nerves. It's not clear why this happens but it may be a combination of genetic and environmental factors.
Although more people are being diagnosed with MS today than in the past, the reasons for this are not clear. Likely contributors include greater awareness of the disease, better access to medical care and improved diagnostic capabilities. There is no definitive evidence that the rate of MS is generally on the increase.
MS is not directly inherited from parent to child. There's no single gene that causes it. Over 200 genes might affect your chances of getting MS.
Consuming a moderate amount of caffeine, in the form of coffee, tea, or other caffeinated foods, may improve a person's ability to focus and reduce MS fatigue without causing negative side effects. That said, everyone is different and some people are more sensitive to caffeine.
Research shows hot chocolate could help reduce fatigue
Our research shows Flavonoids found in cocoa could help reduce fatigue in people with relapsing MS.
“It omits dairy foods, eggs, grains, legumes, and certain vegetables, all of which are highly nutritious.” Some people with MS end up cutting certain foods because they can't get around well or have fatigue, making it a challenge to shop for and cook the dishes they prefer.
Lifestyle Factors and MS Progression
We know lifestyle factors such as eating a healthy diet, maintaining a healthy gut microbiome, exercising regularly, and taking vitamin D are helpful for our overall health. Some, like exercise, can help with MS symptoms, prevent complications, and possibly be neuroprotective.
It is a strict exclusion diet that recommends cutting out all dairy, grains, legumes, sugar-rich foods, and any foods that may cause an allergic reaction, such as eggs and yeast. It also recommends reducing the intake of saturated and polyunsaturated fats, salt, and alcohol.
Ways to Treat a Flare-Up
The goal is to bring down the inflammation that caused your symptoms. Your doctor will likely prescribe a steroid drug. Steroids curb inflammation and can help you get over a relapse faster.