LIVING WITH M.S

 Hello ladies and gents this is the Viking telling you that today we are talking about 

Living with -Multiple sclerosis

You may have to adapt your daily life if you're diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS), but with the right care and support many people can lead long, active and healthy lives.

Self care

Self care is an integral part of daily life. It means you take responsibility for your own health and wellbeing, with support from people involved in your care.

Self care includes the things you do each day to stay fit, maintain good physical and mental health, prevent illness or accidents, and effectively deal with minor ailments and long-term conditions. 

People living with long-term conditions can benefit enormously from being supported to care for themselves.

They can live longer, have a better quality of life, and be more active and independent.

Regular reviews

Although you'll probably be in regular contact with your care team, you should also have a comprehensive review of your care at least once a year.

This is a good opportunity to discuss your current treatment, mention any new problems you're having, think about any further support you may need, and be kept informed about any new treatments that are available.

Make sure you let your care team know about any symptoms or concerns you have. The more the team knows, the more they can help you.

Healthy eating and exercise

There's no special diet that's been proven to slow the progression of MS, but a generally healthy, balanced diet can help you manage specific problems such as fatigue and constipation.

It can also reduce your risk of other health problems, such as heart disease.

Regular activity and exercise is important for both general health and fitness.

Research has shown specific benefits of exercise for people with MS, including reduced fatigue and improved strength, mobility, and bowel and bladder function.

Stopping smoking

Smoking is associated with an increased risk of a wide range of health conditions, and may also increase the speed at which MS gets worse.

If you smoke, stopping may help to slow the progression of your MS.

Keeping well

If you have significant disability related to MS, you'll usually be encouraged to get a flu jab each autumn.

But vaccines that contain live organisms, such as the BCG (TB) vaccine and one form of the shingles vaccine, may not be suitable if you're having treatment with some (but not all) of the disease-modifying therapies.

These treatments can weaken your immune system, which means live vaccines may not work or could make you ill.

and as always have a chilled day from the Viking