Many people with MS experience a temporary worsening of their symptoms when the weather is very hot or humid, or when they run a fever. These temporary changes can result from even a slight elevation in core body temperature (one-quarter to one-half of a degree).
Why You're Sensitive to Heat. MS damages the protective sheath around nerve cells in your brain and spinal cord. This slows down nerve signals, so your body doesn't always respond the way it should. Heat can slow these signals even more.
MS causes nerves to lose their myelin sheath, making them more vulnerable to heat and temperature changes. Heat exposure can cause or heighten fatigue, numbness, blurry vision, tremor, confusion, imbalance, and weakness. This is a pseudo-exacerbation as symptoms typically dissipate once the body is cooled.
Heat sensitivity or Uhthoff's phenomenon occurs in 60–80% of MS patients [1], where increases in core body temperature as little as ~ 0.5°C can trigger temporary symptoms worsening.
Multiple sclerosis (MS) triggers that worsen symptoms or cause a relapse can include stress, heart disease and smoking. While some are easier to avoid than others, maintaining a healthy lifestyle and overall health and wellness can have outsized benefits for MS patients.
Increased activity, hot weather, hot baths and showers, saunas, and hot tubs are all sources of heat that can cause issues for someone living with MS. These sources can trigger a phenomenon known as an MS pseudoexacerbation, which is the experience of having symptoms appear or worsen due to heat exposure.
Despite having a similar core temperature to those without MS while resting and exercising, people with MS show a significantly reduced sweat response.
MS itself is rarely fatal, but complications may arise from severe MS, such as chest or bladder infections, or swallowing difficulties. The average life expectancy for people with MS is around 5 to 10 years lower than average, and this gap appears to be getting smaller all the time.
Hot temperatures can make pain feel worse, and for people with conditions like multiple sclerosis, heat can trigger Uhthoff's phenomenon, which causes worsening nerve pain. Cold temperatures can make joints feel stiffer and more painful, especially for people with arthritis.
If you have a condition like multiple sclerosis (MS), cold temps can make your symptoms worse and make you flat-out uncomfortable. You might find that it's harder to move your limbs, you get more muscle spasms than normal, or your muscles feel tighter.
Strategies for easing the effects of heat
Use cooling products such as vests, neck wraps, and bandana during exercise or outdoor activity. Wear lightweight, loose, breathable clothing. Drink cold fluids and eat popsicles. Exercise in a cool pool (<85 degrees) or a cool environment.
Fatigue is also among the most common symptoms, reported by at least 75% of MS patients at some point in the disease course. For many, fatigue is considered to be the single most debilitating symptom, surpassing pain and even physical disability.
MS symptoms that tend to be a greater problem at night include: Muscle spasms and stiffness: Movement throughout the day can help to loosen muscles and bring relief, but they get worse again during sleep when they are still.
Lesions in the brain may affect cognitive abilities. Some people with MS have trouble with memory, attention and concentration, multitasking and decision-making, says Dr. Scherz. The changes are usually mild at the beginning, but can be frustrating as time goes by.
MS is a lifelong disease. Your symptoms may gradually get worse as it progresses and parts of the brain and spinal cord get damaged. But a few simple lifestyle changes can help you stay mobile and have a good quality of life for a long time.
Research has shown that maintaining enough vitamin D in the body may lower the risk of multiple sclerosis (MS). Several studies have shown that people who get more sun exposure and vitamin D in their diets are less likely to have MS .
[1] Sunlight exposure and reduced Vitamin D 3 levels independently contribute to MS risk. The effect of sunlight exposure is supported by decreased signs of actinic skin damage found in MS patients compared to controls.
Sun exposure has been shown to reduce the severity and progression of MS and also lift depression.
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.