[mrkmyword]

There's a web site I tend to visit once in awhile. Its run by TEVA the company that makes Copaxone and just happens to be an Israeli Company


http://www.mswatch.ca/en/living-with...m_medium=email

Why does heat make MS symptoms worse?

Heat is thought to cause these pseudo-exacerbations because demyelinated nerves have more trouble conducting messages at higher temperatures. That doesn’t mean you need to miss out on summer. With a bit of planning, you can enjoy summer without getting burned by the heat.
Some ideas on staying cool







Beat the heat, don’t shun the sun

There are many ways you can keep your body from overheating and still enjoy the summertime sun.

Enjoy outdoor activities during cooler times of the day, usually early morning or evening, and take a break when needed.

Swim or do aerobics in cool water (recommended temperature 80-84 degrees). Not only will it help you keep cool but swimming and other water activities have a long list of benefits. They can improve your endurance and cardiovascular fitness as well as reduce stress and help you relax. All while helping you survive the summer heat!

Find swimming exercises you can do.

Dress for the weather. Wear wide brimmed hats and light-coloured loose clothing in breathable fabrics such as cotton. If you’re exercising outside, wear cooling garments such as vests, headbands and neckbands – these are used by many athletes to prevent overheating.

Dampen and refrigerate a towel, or freeze a wet T-shirt to put on over your clothes when you’re headed out into the heat.

Cool your core. By keeping your body cool before going outside or exercising can help you beat the heat by increasing the time it takes for your core body temperature to rise. In other words, it gives you longer before you feel the heat. Here are a few ways you can cool you core.

* Drink plenty of fluids; water is an ideal choice. Drinking cool water can help keep you cool.
* It’s important to stay well hydrated. Avoid beverages containing caffeine (like many soft drinks) as this acts as a diuretic.
* Hot weather can dampen your enthusiasm for cooking, let alone for eating a hot meal. Look beyond the popsicle freezer for cool and nutritious foods that won’t cause your blood sugar to spike and possibly contribute to fatigue.
* Freeze your favourite fruit beverage and eat it as a slushy. Try raw vegetables with a hummus dip, fruit with (frozen) yogurt, salads with meat, fish or hard boiled eggs for protein, cold soups, or even smoothies made with your favourite fruit and cold milk or soy beverage. When you do want to cook, consider using the BBQ to avoid heating up the kitchen.
* A cool bath or shower can help reduce core body temperature before and/or after activity or exposure to a hot environment. Start by getting into a bathtub of comfortably lukewarm water, and add cooler water over a period of 20-30 minutes. Submerging the upper body in cool water will maximize the cooling effect.

[Erin524]

My favorite trick lately when I've HAD to go out into the heat, is to get a bandanna, wet it, and tie it around my wrist. (or both wrists if I have two bandannas)

There's something about having a cold, soggy bandanna on my wrist that makes the rest of my body feel cooler.

and if you have a third bandanna, you can wet it and put it across the back of your neck.

Last time I went to the zoo I forgot my bandannas. It wasnt that warm outside (it was early April) but I was really dragging. (was just about to start the big flare that's been harassing me all summer) I think I would have felt better if I'd had my soggy bandannas with me.

Last summer, that was pretty much the only way I could get thru the zoo was to have those bandannas and also to stop at the snack bars and get frozen lemonade (Mmmm!) They also had a few exhibits that are kept cold for the animals, gotta love the penguin display in the aquarium...I like walking thru that display. They have benches where you can sit and watch the penguins swim and eat fish if the handlers are there tossing food to them.

[SallyC]

When my DH was alive, I struggled with the heat, to join him whenever I could. He loved summer events. Mostly, as we aged, we went to A/C Bars, though.

Since I don't shiv a git anymore, I now beat the heat by, staying out of it.

[doydie]

I wouldn't go to an amusement park this week, supposed to be 100 with heat index 115, but we went back in June. First place you hit is the raging rapids type ride so your whole body and clothes get soppin wet. Since everyone at the park is or has been wet you all look the same. And you are much cooler.

I'm going to have to get my cooling vest out this week.

[Debbie D]

My neuro prescribed Slurpees...okay doc!!

[NurseNancy]

thanks for that info. your post was very timely as this summer has been so hot already.

[Lady]

I can just see me putting on a frozen T-shirt. EEK! I could enter the "Wet T-Shirt" contest..and lose.

Even if over my other summer shirt it would get soaked. I guess it's a guy thing.

I tend to stay in or go from A/C in car to A/C in a store. I don't sweat, I can't cool down ,so I try not to get overheated.

If I do, I take a cold shower a few times or rub cold facecloth over my exposed parts. Good ideas btw.

[kaysus1973]

Hi! My name is Kayleen. I am kind of just hanging out here on the MS forum.....hope u don"t mind.

For about 2.5 years I have been told that I have "possible MS"........I have "non-specific white matter changes" in my brain on all MRIs. I have severe migraines.......they say many people with migraines often have these types of findings. I saw an MS specialist at the Mellen Center at the Cleveland Clinic last August........he blew me off.

I have a huge problem with sweating! It doesn't have to b hot! I can b in a totally cool A/C room and i will break out sweating so bad that i will literally b soaked! My hair gets drenched! And the sweat pours off me! It is very uncomfortable, but most of all it is EMBARASSING! Especially at church! I teach a large group of kids & it is really embarassing to look that way when their parents pick them up!

They have checked my hormones............I am 37....I am not perimenopausal or menopausal. I have an underactive thyroid - hypothyroid - and am on meds...........has been tested and is in normal range. I am on 1 psych med that says u need to be careful in the sun as it can lead to heat exhaustion/stroke. I NEVER go out in the heat! I take a shower and 10 min. later I am sweating like a pig!

I know that people with MS struggle with heat issues. Does anyone suffer like this?

I am seeing an endocrinologist tomorrow at The Cleveland Clinic......praying I can get some answers.
'

[SallyC]

Hi Kay, thanks for hanging out with us. We're happy to have you.

I'm sorry for your sweaty problem. It does sound like an hormone or some kind of a chemical imbalance. An MS lesion, in the right place, can and does cause some of these imbalances.

Keep us up to date on how you are and, in the meantime, enjoy being part of our Family.

[ewizabeth]

Hi Kay,

Welcome to the MS forum!

I have heat issues but not including sweating. I hope they can figure out the problem and help you. I wonder if any of your meds can cause sweating? Keep us posted.