What Are Some Medical Treatments For Ms
In general, if possible, it is good to avoid using medications. People with MS often take several medications. Limiting the number of medicines is good medical practice. It is also important in reducing costs. However, if fatigue continues to interfere with activities, medications may be useful. These medications may include:
Last reviewed by a Cleveland Clinic medical professional on 01/28/2019.
References
Finding Help And Taking Help Thats Offered
People might say to you If theres anything you need or If theres anything I can do, but it is not always easy to ask for help, even when it is offered.
It can be useful to prepare a list of tasks that youd like help with. That way, if someone does offer to help, you can easily tell them how they could help.
If you find it hard to take, or ask for help, our fatigue management course could help you!
Whole Grains And Complex Carbohydrates
Most of us skip breakfast for a little bit of extra sleep or choose unhealthy options like bagels, doughnuts, or high-calorie snacks for sustenance. To have stable energy levels throughout the day, decide to eat an oatmeal breakfast or have whole grain options like whole-wheat pancakes, multigrain sandwiches or quinoa. These have a high amount of good quality carbohydrates that provide fuel to our brains and muscles, so they work efficiently and make great foods to fight fatigue.
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Something To Keep In Mind About Nutrient Dense Foods:
Adding these foods to your diet is the goal make them a regular part of your nutrition routine! Nutrient dense foods are packed with benefits but they pay dividends over the long haul. I have encountered a number of people that have dose response expectations from foods, which are frequently met with disappointment. A sustained dietary pattern that includes nutrient dense foods will pay off far more than a single dose of pumpkin seeds, no matter how fabulous they are.
What Causes Fatigue In Patients With Multiple Sclerosis
The exact cause of MS-related fatigue is still unknown. There are several theories on the subject:
- One theory is that fatigue is related to the general activation of the immune system. Chemical messengers are called cytokines these levels are higher in patients with MS and may be higher still in patients with fatigue. One way of describing this is that you may feel like you have a virus all of the time.
- Another theory is that people with MS may have to use more parts of their brain to do the same task as someone without MS in essence, they are working harder.
- Another theory is that fatigue is related to reduced electrical transmission of signals in the brain.
Whatever the theory, we know that fatigue from MS is a very real part of the disease.
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How Is Multiple Sclerosis Diagnosed
Making the diagnosis of MS remains a challenge, due to the variability in symptoms and the unpredictable disease course. The basic requirement for diagnosis is the involvement of multiple areas of the CNS at multiple points in time. The patients symptoms, exam findings, and MRI scans are used to make the diagnosis. MRI has made it possible to make an earlier diagnosis, and now some patients can be diagnosed after one clinical attack . The advantage of an earlier diagnosis is that patients may qualify for disease-modifying treatments at earlier stages. The most recent guidelines for the diagnosis of MS are known as the McDonald criteria. Despite these guidelines, making a definitive diagnosis based on the symptoms and MRI findings remains difficult. A physician experienced in treating MS should be involved in making the diagnosis.
Talk With Others Who Understand
MyMSTeam is the social network for people with multiple sclerosis and their loved ones. On MyMSTeam, more than 190,000 members come together to ask questions, give advice, and share their stories with others who understand life with multiple sclerosis.
Do you take vitamins or other supplements to help with MS? Have you discussed supplements with your doctor? Share your experience in the comments below, or start a conversation by posting on your Activities page.
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Best Fruits For Weakness
Best fruits for weakness. Weakness problems are common as we grow old and our immunity system weakens due to exposure to various stresses and tension. It also happens when we get sick, Bananas, oranges, apples and mangoes are best fruits for weakness. These fruits are rich in vitamin C that is a nutrient which strengthens the body and reduces the danger of heart diseases.
Lean Proteins In Diet
Lean proteins are actually important part of your diet. Leaner meats that have chicken, fish or turkey in your diet do not have sufficient protein that can boost your energy. Weakness or fatigue can be countered with the help of omega 3 fatty acids present in the sea food including fish and nuts. Lean proteins are healthy for your heart, and thus you need to include them in your diet in order to boost health. Muscle weakness that happens because of protein deficiency or protein loss can be fulfilled with help of leaner protein meats.
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Causes Of Muscle Weakness
Muscle weakness is a feeling that your muscles can’t do the work they’re supposed to do. It can be caused by something as simple as overworking your muscles at the gym or during an exercise session, or it can be a symptom related to something more serious.
If your muscle weakness is due to overexertion, a few days of rest along with a healthy diet and good hydration should improve your symptoms. However, if your muscle weakness gets worse, comes suddenly without any explanation or if it’s especially severe, it’s important to talk to your doctor.
Muscle weakness may be caused by certain medications like corticosteroids, NSAIDs or statins. It can also be caused by various health conditions including hypothyroidism or anemia.
A January 2017 article in _Frontiers in Immunology _cites inflammation and inflammatory diseases like cancer, diabetes, chronic fatigue syndrome or multiple sclerosis as a cause of weakness and fatigue. It’s a common complaint among people with these conditions, but medical professionals aren’t exactly sure why they cause muscle weakness.
Interestingly, muscle weakness can also be caused by a sedentary lifestyle. Sitting for extended periods of time can weaken your muscles, which can lead to feeling weak when you do get up or try to move around. Often, improving your diet by including more foods to combat tiredness can improve your symptoms and give you more energy.
Read more:4 Symptoms of Leg Weakness You Should Learn to Recognize
Its Unclear How Diet Affects The Inflammation That Occurs In Ms
Inflammation definitely plays a role, probably both in the development of the disease and in the subsequent clinical course, says Dr. Piccio. But, she adds, that doesnt mean we currently have a clear understanding of how diet affects this process.
Numerous studies involving animal models, as well as some smaller studies of people with MS, are under way to explore the connection between diet and MS and to understand how different foods could affect inflammatory processes in the body. Probably in the next few years, well have some answers, says Piccio.
In the meantime, she recommends following a generally healthy diet rich in vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and legumes, and low in sugar, salt, saturated fat, and all processed foods. We know for sure, says Piccio, that such a diet will impact the cardiovascular system, and so indirectly, this will benefit MS.
Most foods that are widely touted for their anti-inflammatory effects, it turns out, are also good for you in other ways, and bear Piccios stamp of approval. Definitely, those would be good recommendations that I would give to any patient to promote general health, she notes.
Here are eight foods widely touted for their anti-inflammatory properties that you should check out if you have MS even if were still waiting on solid evidence regarding their benefits.
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About The Ketogenic Diet
The ketogenic diet mimics the bodys fasting state. To do this, it cuts carbohydrates dramatically and replaces them with healthy fats and protein. As a result, the body relies on fat as a primary energy source . A person on a ketogenic diet, for example, might eat a hamburger with no bun and a side of brussels sprouts with bacon. The traditional side of French fries would not be allowed while fries are high in fat, theyre also loaded with carbohydrates, which are used as sugars by the body. Consuming excess carbs would defeat the point of keto, which is to minimize the bodys sugar reserves.
Dietary changes are known to have effects on the bodys immune system. In particular, the ketogenic diet may have several benefits for immune-mediated disorders, so Brenton wanted to investigate how this diet could help patients with MS.
He and his collaborators found that the diet had a wide array of benefits, as determined both by patient report and by laboratory and clinical tests. For example, patients on keto walked farther and faster in six minutes than they did prior to the diet. Other benefits included reductions in total body fat and enhanced fine motor speed, as well as improved fatigue, depression and quality of life scores and beneficial changes in inflammatory blood markers.
Based on the findings, the researchers conclude that the ketogenic diet is safe in the short-term and potentially effective in improving MS-related symptoms and overall quality of life.
What Are Symptoms Of Fatigue
There are two major types of fatigue in MS. These two types of fatigue are probably separate problems related to the MS.
The first type is a general feeling of tiredness. It may feel as if one has not slept the night before. This feeling may be worse in the afternoons or after activity. People may feel that they are unable to do as many tasks without getting tired as they did before.
A second type of fatigue is muscular. In this type, there is increased weakness after repeated activity. Often, this occurs with walking. People may find that they are dragging one leg or are more unsteady.
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Eat More Fermented Foods
Drinks and dishes like kefir, yogurt, kimchi, and sauerkraut are rich in probiotics, which are the good-for-you gut bacteria believed to be beneficial to our health in many ways. One theory is a lack of these healthy bugs may contribute to a range of autoimmune conditions, including MS. A study published in the journal Nature Communications, for example, found that folks with MS have different types of gut bacteriaincluding more “bad bacteria”than those without the disease. To help balance out the bad, try adding one serving of fermented foods to your daily diet.
Causes And Risk Factors
What does multiple sclerosis do to the body that causes the symptoms described above? As mentioned above, MS is caused by damage to the myelin sheath, the protective covering that surrounds nerve cells. Nerves are covered by tissue that acts like insulation, much like the coating used to protect electric wires. The covering of nerves is needed to help conduct nerve impulses and therefore many bodily functions, such as muscle coordination and control over emotions.
The kind of nerve damage that is associated with MS is caused by factors including autoimmune responses, dysbiotic gut microbiota, and increased inflammation. In other words, MS is believed to be caused by the bodys own immune cells attacking the nervous system. This damage can happen anywhere in the brain or spinal cord.
Although no specific causes of MS are known, some possible causes include:
Other risk factors for multiple sclerosis include:
- Being between the ages of 2040. Of the 400,000 people living in the U.S. that have MS, the majority are believed to be young adults under 40.
- Smoking cigarettes.
- Childhood obesity. Some research shows that those with a high body mass index before age 20 may be twice as likely to develop MS as those within a normal weight range.
- Vitamin D deficiency during the first 15 years of life.
Some of the most common causes of a flare in MS symptoms include:
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Is Food A Part Of The Problem
A recent study compared the dietary intake of antioxidants and anti-inflammatory nutrients in individuals with MS compared to healthy control population. The results of the study, which used food frequency questionnaires to obtain information about dietary intake, revealed that study participants with MS were consuming diets deficient in Folate, Vitamin E, Magnesium, Lutein-Zeaxanthin and Quercitin. In other words, MS participants were not eating adequate amounts of these beneficial nutrients. The results of the study are to be presented at the American Academy of Neurologys 67th Annual Meeting in Washington, DC, April 2015.
Mckel Kooienga Ms Rdn Ldn
Founder of Nutrition Stripped® and the Mindful Nutrition Method
Show a little love for your belly with this easy Rise and Shine Yogurt Bowl!
Here at NS, we are no strangers to meal fatigue when it comes to our daily routine. Batch cooking for the week is a great way to plan ahead, but for most of us, breakfast can be the toughest meal to batch cook for. Thats why we like to keep a couple of breakfast hacks up the sleeve that is quick and easy, but still nutrient-dense to start us out on the right foot.
This Rise and Shine Yogurt Bowl gives a boost of protein and healthy fat and is the perfect basis for whatever fruits and goodies you have on hand. Honey, maple syrup, cinnamon, nuts, and seeds, the list goes and on and ensures you wont get bored with breakfast any time soon!
Good news for yogurt lovers!
You can easily boost your intake of probiotics by simply switching up your shopping list. Next time youre at the grocery store, look for a brand of yogurt that has been cultured with probiotics. This type of yogurt is produced using fermented milk and typically contains lactic acid bacteria to ramp up the concentration of probiotics.
If you have high blood pressure, probiotic yogurt may be especially beneficial. Consuming fermented milk in foods like probiotic yogurt may be effective at reducing both systolic and diastolic blood pressure. Especially in those with high blood pressure already .
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Why The Live Disease Free Eating Plan Is The Best Multiple Sclerosis Diet
The short answer to why you should choose the Live Disease Free MS diet plan is that it is far more effective than any other multiple sclerosis diet, protocol or eating plan in reducing MS symptoms. The Live Disease Free MS meal plan is the best diet for MS because it is the only one that addresses the root cause of disease, which is infection. Following a low-carb, highly nutritious eating plan is the first step to recover from parasitic and bacterial infections that cause disease.
The Live Disease Free MS eating plan is primarily focused on feeding the body with a lot of nutrition while decreasing food to the infections that cause disease, making them less active and easier to treat. This results in a decrease in inflammation and wonderful symptom improvements from just diet alone. By targeting inflammation in particular, this eating plan provides effective relief for those who suffer from autoimmune disorders like Multiple Sclerosis. While some of the other diets mentioned above can provide some symptom relief, the Live Disease Free MS diet will offer the most symptom improvements and will best prepare people to treat the infections that are the root cause of the disease.
Getting The Nutrition You Need During Cancer Treatment
After a diagnosis of cancer, many people feel a loss of confidence when it comes to nutrition. Some cancer survivors question their earlier food choices, while others begin to strictly limit foods they consider bad, like sugar and caffeine.
As food is one of the few areas over which cancer survivors have some control, it is important to recognize which diet modifications may be helpful, and which may simply reflect a bargaining aspect of adjusting to a cancer diagnosis.
While this thought process is understandable, its a good idea to look at what the science tells us. Lets see if there may be some sensible and empowering diet changes you can make without taking away the enjoyment of eating.
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Bone Up On Calcium And Vitamin D
According to the NMSS, research is increasingly showing that low vitamin D levels in the blood may be a risk factor for developing MS, though more research is needed to find out whether vitamin D has any impact on disease activity in people with the condition.
But experts do know that getting enough vitamin D and calcium is key for bone health among people who already have MS.
Its a good idea to incorporate foods high in vitamin D and calcium into your diet, especially if you have been on steroids for a long time, Eng says, because one side effect of steroids is poor bone health. Low levels of weight-bearing activity, such as walking, can also lead to weak bones and a higher fracture risk.
Steroids are often prescribed only as a short-term, first-line treatment for MS exacerbations usually for three to five days via IV, and sometimes followed by a tapering oral dose for one to three weeks.
But some comorbid conditions that are common in people with MS, including inflammatory bowel diseases like Crohns disease or ulcerative colitis, require long-term steroid use. And per the NMSS, steroid treatment can lead to bone loss if used for prolonged periods of time.
Good food sources of vitamin D include fortified milk and orange juice, cod liver oil, and fatty fish. Small amounts of vitamin D are naturally present in egg yolks and cheese.
