Individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS) know how difficult the condition can make everyday life. While there is no known cure for MS, there are many helpful practices and lifestyle changes which can alleviate the symptoms significantly.
Although there’s no substitute for getting professional medical care when suffering from MS, there are plenty of things that you can do at home or in the office to improve the quality of your life. These range from small practices like breathing exercises to a whole revamp of your diet plan.
It’s advisable to learn more about MS and understand everything about the condition. Explore some of the excellent management practices given below.
1. Keep Fit And Active
One of the common effects of MS is fatigue which can sap your energy levels suddenly. This makes it very difficult for patients to carry out their daily activities. One of the best ways to counter fatigue due to MS is to keep yourself as physically fit and active as possible. It can be a real struggle at first to motivate yourself into being active, but the long-term benefits of doing so will eventually bear fruit.
Keeping your body in optimal physical condition will help stabilize your daily energy levels and raise your physical activity threshold. This will enable you to endure strenuous or prolonged activities. However, you need to exercise caution with MS as it’s easy to overdo and over-exert yourself. Be active during periods of your day when you feel most energized, and make sure you get in plenty of rest afterwards to allow your body to recover.
2. Following A Healthy Diet
What you put in your body determines your physical and mental health. Most diet plans built around MS are anti-inflammatory in nature to help assuage the symptoms of the condition. This means prioritizing food groups such as vegetables, whole grains and fruits to reduce inflammation throughout the body. Healthy fats are also crucial and can be obtained from foods such as fatty fish and plant oils.
Vitamin D plays a key role in determining the severity of MS symptoms. Therefore, it’s vital that you get your daily intake to help slow down the progression of the disease. It’s believed that over 1 billion people worldwide are deficient in vitamin D, leading to detrimental consequences for their overall health. Getting enough vitamin D each day is relatively straightforward. Exposure to sunshine for just 15 minutes a day does wonders for your body. Dietary sources of vitamin D include eggs, fish oil and milk, or you can take a vitamin D supplement instead.
3. Reduce Stress
Stress is a strong aggravating factor of MS symptoms and has been associated with all kinds of health problems. The problem is that having MS can be very stressful, forcing individuals into a vicious cycle. There are several practices people can follow to help reduce stress, many of which will take just 10-15 minutes each day. Breathing exercises are particularly effective for reducing stress and can easily be done at home. Other techniques include muscle relaxation exercises and yoga, which will also be considered a part of your daily physical exercise routine.
4. Get Enough Sleep
The importance of getting enough sleep cannot be overemphasized. Not only will sound sleep alleviate the symptoms of MS, but it can provide compounding mental and physical benefits. Sleeping is particularly important for MS sufferers as it helps to combat fatigue, leaving them fresh and revitalized each day.
You should stick to a fixed sleeping schedule every night to maximize the benefits of sleep. If you have trouble waking up a lot at night, try relaxation exercises before going to bed. The exercises will soothe your body and help you go into deep sleep. It’s also important to have the right kind of sleeping environment. Avoid eating and drinking heavily before sleep and try to stay off your phone or computer.
5. Keep Your Brain Engaged
Apart from physical debilitation, MS can also bring about a decline in cognitive functions. The best way to counter this is to keep your brain sharp and focused. It’s a good idea to find daily activities that keep your mind active, such as brain-training games or puzzles. The important thing is to keep the neurons firing across your brain. Therefore, find an enjoyable hobby that keeps your mind sharp. This means avoid activities that put your brain into a low-energy state. Therefore, avoid binging on TV shows or scrolling through your smartphone all day.
Conclusion
As with many complex health conditions, the key to managing MS correctly is having a varied and balanced approach that tackles it from multiple angles. No single lifestyle change will bring about miraculous changes. Therefore, incorporate the various tips given in this article to enhance the quality of your life. Such changes will help you fight Multiple Sclerosis effectively.