Can wake-up sunshine help with MS?

  

Pulling back the curtains or running up the window shades immediately upon awakening in the morning has become a popular natural elixir for lots of folks. It’s not exactly a new discovery, but lots of health experts are trumpeting the merits of catching a glimpse of sunlight right after waking up.

 Starting the day with a glimpse of natural light can be soothing and cheery at the time, but it also may provide some significant ongoing health benefits.

 

Sunlight (or UV lighting) isn’t just a treatment for seasonal affect disorder anymore.

 Experts agree that, although excessive exposure to sunlight may cause skin cancer, sunlight can aid in resetting the body’s circadian rhythms (internal clock), adding vitamin D, generating emotional well-being (by boosting serotonin and melatonin in the brain), improving vision, easing certain skin conditions (eczema, psoriasis, and vitiligo), treating jaundice, reducing blood pressure, and perhaps helping with weight management.

 Scientific American says it may help with cognitive fog, fatigue, inflammation, lethargy, and other symptoms common to MS. The National Library of Medicine offers support of the theory that sunlight (or light therapy) can reduce MS-related fatigue.

 A 2021 study published in Neurology magazine suggested that children and young people spending considerable time outdoor in summer months might be less likely to develop MS than those who did not.

 Some actually use ultraviolet light boxes to self-treat autoimmune diseases like arthritis, Crohn’s, colitis, diabetes, and more. Oh, and multiple sclerosis.

 

Step outside, if you can!

 Direct sunlight is a known source of vitamin D, which is healthy for everyone, but especially difficult to build up for many MSers. It seems we can’t get enough of it. A short jaunt outdoors (or perhaps a brief stop to read a chapter of a good book) can be just the ticket.

 

Sunshine before screen time

 There’s something to be said for taking a few moments to breathe deeply and enjoy a peek at the outdoors before picking up the phone, tablet, laptop, TV remote, or other screened device. Starting the day with a pause seems like a healthy thing to do – especially as a stress-buster. It’s a way of changing the channel before jumping into the plentiful concerns of the day.

 Personally, I love to open the blinds and let the sunshine in (or just natural light, if it’s a cloudy day) and then crawl back into bed for a few minutes. Sometimes I can spot birds, rabbits, or other delightful sights. It’s a great time to ponder the day to come and think through my plan of attack, so to speak. Even that is likely to start a new day in an intentional and deliberate way.

 Hey, it can’t hurt.

 

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9 smart tips for remembering to take medications

  

It’s one of the worst feelings, waking up in the middle of the night and wondering, “Did I take my bedtime medication?” Or pausing mid-morning and thinking, “Geez, I think I forget to take that pill today. Or did I?”

 

For anyone living with multiple sclerosis, those little memory blips can crop up anytime.

 For example, I have a prescription that is dosed weekly. That means I have to remind myself on that day of the week to do it. Making matters worse, this drug has to be taken a full hour before eating anything. How many times have I forgotten, only to remember it after eating my breakfast? (Don’t ask.)

 I know I am not alone in this. Lots of people (especially MSers, anyone reaching a certain age, or anyone who may be a little overtired or stressed – OK, I can fit all of those criteria on a given day) can slip up with medication doses.

 

Here are nine practical steps we can take to keep track of our regular medication doses.

 We don’t all have to do all of these things. It’s important for each of us to find the methods that work best for us, so we’ll stick to them. 

1. 
   Use a weekly pill sorter box. In our house, we call those “smutwurfs,” because they are marked S-M-T-W-T-F-S. The idea is to place each day’s medications into its marked spot. (If you take AM and PM meds, you might want two of these sorters.) Lots of people use these for traveling, but they are equally handy at home. (I even use one to keep track of our senior doggy’s medicines.) Here’s one example of a pill organizer. And here’s one for someone taking medications three times a day, marked for morning, noon, and night. 
   

2. Location. Location. Location. Set out morning doses before bedtime, and setup evening doses on the nightstand. That makes medications hard to miss. 

3. Set alarms for medication times. Smart phones are ideal for this, although some people still prefer an actual alarm clock. It’s easy to set up recurring alarms on a smart phone or tablet, if you take your meds at certain specific times of day and/or night. 

4. Put dosage times on your smart phone calendar. If this makes more sense to you, it’s equally simple to create recurring calendar events on your smart phone calendar. What’s more, you can even set start and end dates, if a medication will only be used for a specified duration. 

5. Make yourself a chart of checklist to record when you take your medicines. Keep it in a visible and convenient spot, and mark it each time you have a dose. Here’s a medication tracker/pill reminder gadget with little sliding buttons for AM and PM. Some people prefer to use daily medication log books (or even large print versions) to check off doses. 

6. Keep extra meds handy. If you may find yourself out and about at medication times, it’s smart to carry a few doses in a pocket, pack, or purse. That way, you won’t find yourself without your dosages when they are due. Although some folks keep their extra meds in their cars, this is not advisable when extreme temperatures are possible, as those may degrade or alter the potency of the medications. Here’s a convenient little daily pill organizer with four compartments to hold one day’s medications while away from home. 

7. Enlist another for reminders. Some folks find it helpful to clue in a trusted and reliable friend or family member, just in case they happen to forget when it’s dosage time. (If you have a caregiver, then this step is likely already in place.) 

8. Stay current with your medical team about your medications. It’s easy to lose track of medication regimens, especially if your treatment plan changes. Old medications may no longer be recommended, and new ones may be prescribed. Mixing old and new drugs can be problematic, potentially causing dangerous or unpleasant interactions, so it’s essential to keep things up to date. 

9. Keep your medication supply current. If a drug is no longer part of your treatment plan, it’s time to get rid of it, so you won’t risk taking it by mistake. Most communities offer periodic drug turn-in days, when they accept such medications and dispose of them properly and safely. (I take my Rx labels off first for privacy’s sake, but that’s just me.)

Each individual will quickly determine which steps are most helpful. The main thing is to manage medications accurately and eliminate missed or incorrect doses. 

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Image/s:  Public domain photo/s, Pixabay

 

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MS comorbidities: Welcome to the party!

 Multiple sclerosis is a wacky disease. Ask anyone battling it. The constellation of possible MS symptoms is baffling to contemplate. Experientially, MS brings a host of surprises, as the MSer’s body seems to betray him or her in all sorts of surprising (and seemingly unrelated) ways. 

 

 Vision disturbances can crop up. A limb may go numb for a while or longer. Incontinence may sink in. Spasticity might strike. Walking can become difficult. Vertigo could stop by for a spin. Fatigue might suddenly become overwhelming.

Once diagnosed, we find it’s easy to blame all sorts of health complaints on MS. On the other hand, MSers can be prone to several other illnesses and complications. That’s called comorbidity.

 

What are the most frequently found comorbidities with MS?

Here’s a garden variety:

• anxiety
• arthritis
• asthmatic bronchitis
• cardiovascular disease
• chronic lung disease
• cognitive/memory issues
• deep vein thrombosis
• depression
• diabetes
• high cholesterol
• inflammatory bowel disease
• migraines
  
• obesity
• psoriasis
• sleep issues
• stroke
• thyroid disorders
• urinary tract infections
• and more.

 In many instances, medical experts aren’t altogether sure whether MS causes a certain comorbidity or vice-versa. For example, MS can cause a person to live a more sedentary lifestyle, which could lead to (or aggravate) blood pressure issues, diabetes, heart or lung disease, obesity, and other ailments.

 Additionally, comorbidities may arise together, perhaps randomly. And lots of medical conditions share symptoms, so it may be difficult to pinpoint whether a symptom stems from MS or from an existing comorbidity. 

Comorbidities can also delay and complicate a person’s initial diagnosis of MS, as symptoms of other conditions may mask MS’ appearance. They can also make MS treatment more difficult to manage and may even set the stage for MS to progress faster in some patients.

 It’s a crazy world out there, especially with the less-than-pleasant bonus of comorbidities with MS.

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Image/s: Public domain photo and user-created word-graphic

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6 tips for losing weight after steroid use

Steroids are not merely the stuff of athletic star scandals. Physicians routinely prescribe steroids for multiple sclerosis exacerbations and many other conditions. Additional medical applications for steroids include Addison’s Disease, allergies, arthritis, asthma, autoimmune disorders, Bell’s Palsy, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), Crohn’s Disease, dermatitis, Epstein-Barr virus, lupus, Lyme disease, organ transplants, pancreatitis, sarcoidosis, certain skin conditions, ulcerative colitis, vasculitis and more.

Of course, anabolic steroids (which enhance the male hormone, testosterone) are a different sort of medication than the more commonly prescribed corticosteroids. Cortisone, prednisone and similar steroidal medications are of the corticosteroid variety.

Corticosteroids (like cortisone and prednisone) may be administered by inhalation (as an inhaler, mist or spray), by injection (as an intravenous, intramuscular, or subcutaneous dose), orally (as capsules, pills, or liquid medicines) or topically (as creams, ear drops, eye drops, ointments, or lotions).

For many steroid medication recipients, corticosteroid usage (particularly long-term usage) can lead to considerable weight gain.

Photo by GaryRabbit - ABS Free Pic

NOTE: Written by this author, this copyrighted material originally appeared on another publisher’s site. That site no longer exists. This author (LAN/Kicking MS to the Curb) holds all rights to this content. No republication is allowed without permission.

Weight gain is a common side effect of corticosteroids.

Because corticosteroids can cause increased appetite, decreased metabolism and even a redistribution of body fat, many corticosteroid users become frustrated and disheartened by this long-term side effect.

Body weight gained during lengthy periods of corticosteroid use can be difficult to shed. How can steroid users lose those pesky pounds? Here are six practical pointers for slimming down after corticosteroid medication use.

1. Set down the salt shaker.

Water retention is a well-known side effect of corticosteroid medications (such as prednisone). By sharply decreasing salt consumption, individuals who are taking (or have taken) corticosteroids can lose considerable water weight fairly quickly, eliminating the bloat.

2. Guzzle gallons of water.

Let’s face it. Nearly no one drinks enough water each day, and corticosteroid users are no exception. Increased water intake can help to cleanse the body from toxins, spent medications (such as corticosteroids), and even sodium that has built up.

3. Be diligent about diet.

A healthy diet is important for anyone, but this is particularly crucial for a patient using prescribed corticosteroids (like prednisone). Corticosteroids often cause increased appetite, so users need to scale back on snacking, particularly carbohydrates and fats.

4. Pick up the pace.

Corticosteroids (such as prednisone) generally slow metabolism in users, so regular exercise is essential for restoring this balance. Rigorous physical activity (such as biking, hiking, jogging, skating, exercise walking, or playing sports) helps to prevent corticosteroid weight gain and take off those excess pounds that may have been added while undergoing steroidal treatments. The key is to pursue whatever workouts work for the individual, without overdoing it and setting off another medical incident.

5. Maintain muscle mass.

Many individuals taking corticosteroids for various medical reasons discover, to their dismay, that their hard-earned muscular physiques seem to lose form. Calisthenics, fitness training, and weight lifting can help to retain and restore muscle mass – both during and after use of such corticosteroids as prednisone and similar steroidal medications. In particular, many corticosteroid users focus heavily on abdominal muscles, as the midsection seems to be the main focus of fat redistribution for many individuals taking steroidal medications.

Exercising and weight training may be extra challenging for those living with multiple sclerosis or other potentially disabling medical conditions. Problems with balance, endurance, flexibility, and other issues may come into play. Professional physical therapy or individually adapted fitness training often prove helpful. In some cases, such regimens may be covered by health insurance plans, if initiated by medical prescriptions.

6. Give yourself a break while taking steroids.

Anxiety, irritability, mood swings and stress may accompany corticosteroid regimens – as well as the medical conditions warranting the use of these steroidal medications. Many medical experts recommend that their patients refrain from exercising personal perfectionism during treatment, focusing on healing and recuperation.

Once steroidal treatment has been completed, these individuals may hope to zoom in on weight loss and personal fitness again.

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