Summer is here. Temperatures are rising, as are our frustrations, as the heat drives MS symptoms crazy. Add moisture and the effect worsens. Strength and endurance are reduced; increases fatigue. Numbness and tingling sensations are aggravated, knees buckling, clinging to furniture and walls as coordination and balance deteriorate.
Why is that?
Because heat slows down the conduction of nerve impulses in all people, but it is particularly problematic for people with MS. When a person without MS comes out of a hot tub or sauna, they move much more slowly. In comparison, a person with MS may not be able to walk or stand at all.
The heat caused by the weather is not the only culprit. ANY type of heat has an adverse effect on the symptoms of MS: fever, room temperature, hyperactivity, hot flashes, exposure to the sun for too long, etc.
So what can we do? Accelerate the conduction of those nerves by cooling you down and keeping you cool.
Ice packs are one of my favorites; I wear them behind my neck, back or rub them all over. I carry them with me in a small cooler if I’m hiking on a hot day. Carrying a frozen plastic water bottle in the car also works as an ice pack and ice water at the same time. Air conditioning is a must. Some people wear cooling vests. Sit in front of a fan.
Ice cold water and showers are very effective in quickly lowering body temperature when overheated. Running cold water over your wrists for several minutes is also helpful. You 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 to spray on, put an ice pack behind your spine, and have cold drinks. Make sure to use a sunscreen not only to protect your skin but also to prevent sunburn; Sunburn will actually raise your body temperature until your skin heals.
Another tip: a common side effect of some bladder medications in some people reduces sweating. So if it is in the sun or in a place with high temperatures, it will overheat faster. It is a good idea to check the information leaflets that come with a medicine.
While dealing with the heat is problematic, there is some good news about the heat and how it affects MS that should always be remembered: Although heat definitely aggravates the nervous system and will intensify symptoms, heat not cause an outbreak or attack.
