The Best Diet for Multiple Sclerosis Patients

Posted on January 21, 2012 by AnneLockhart

The Best Diet for Multiple Sclerosis PatientsWell-balanced diets are essential for maintaining good health and even more important if there is a chronic condition such as multiple sclerosis. Determining what the best diet is for multiple sclerosis patients is one of the things a nutritionist will help with when providing advice for living with multiple sclerosis. The nutritionist knows that body needs to have proper nutrition for energy and fighting infection.

Planning the MS Diet

People with multiple sclerosis can work with a nutritionist to plan their diet and they can use information compiled by doctors, nutritionists and other MS patients to put together a personalized diet plan. Some of this nutritional information is presented below to help get the diet plan started.

The most obvious place to start is with foods that should be avoided. Food allergies should be taken into consideration and listed so that they are not accidentally included in the diet plan. Dairy products should be limited in quantity as they have a tendency to make the body more acidic and also more prone to disease.

Inflammation is a major source of painful symptoms for people who have multiple sclerosis. Foods that are natural anti-inflammatory agents should be included in the diet to help prevent a host of other symptoms from occurring. The following foods have natural anti-inflammatory properties:

  • Seeds and nuts: walnuts, almonds and hazelnuts are excellent not only for their anti-inflammatory properties but also due to their protein and omega-three fatty acid content.
  • Herb and spices: Basil, cocoa, mint, cinnamon, chili pepper and cloves are excellent for preventing inflammation and also have anti-oxidant properties.
  • Oils: Olive oil and vegetable oil both fight inflammation.
  • Seafood: Salmon, tuna, sardines, mackerel and oysters are packed with omega-3 fatty acids and help prevent inflammation in the MS patient.
  • Fruits and vegetables: Green leafy vegetables not only fight inflammation but are packed with antioxidants. Some of the best choices include broccoli, cabbage, collards, spinach, green beans, bells pepper and other leafy vegetables. Fruits include strawberries, raspberries, limes, tomatoes, orange, guava and many other fresh fruit.

Fresh foods, such as those included above are a must when preparing a diet for multiple sclerosis. Processed foods should be avoided as they are typically very high in sodium which can lead to inflammation and serious pain. Utilizing fresh foods helps the body with digestion and aids in staying as healthy as possible. It may take a little more effort to prepare fresh foods but the end result is a powerful tool for coping with multiple sclerosis. The body is better able to absorb vitamins and nutrients from fresh foods.

Foods to Avoid

Many nutritionists and people with multiple sclerosis have found that a gluten free diet is an excellent plan for living with the disease. Gluten is found in many processed foods and in order to eliminate it, the packages must be read to find out what the ingredients include. Flour, barley, oats and rye should not be an ingredient. Gluten free is becoming a popular was of living for many people and so manufacturers have begun indicating on the package when a product is gluten free.

There has been a correlation found between saturate fat and processed meats such as sausage and lunch meats and the incidence of multiple sclerosis. This would make these products foods that should not be included in the diet plan.

Sugar should be avoided and alternatives such as honey used in its place. There are many unsweetened fruit juices that can be used in place of high sugar ones as well as many other low-sugar and alternative sweetener products.

High-fat foods should be avoided by everyone; however, the multiple sclerosis diet should make an extra effort to avoid saturated fats. Skinless chicken, fish and other seafood are meat choices that have little or no saturated feet.

Water

The importance of water in the diet cannot be overstated. Everyone needs to drink at least 8 (8 oz.) glasses of water and the person with multiple sclerosis is no different. Water keeps the body hydrated and the cells in the body healthy. Healthy cells help keep some of the symptoms that are associated with multiple sclerosis at bay.

Overall, the diet for multiple sclerosis is simply a very healthy diet that is perfect for anyone, not just the person with MS. The diet is filled with healthy, unprocessed foods that are low in saturated fat and packed with fresh fruits and vegetables. While there are some foods that should be avoided, such as gluten and sugar, those same foods should be avoided by anybody wanting to eat healthy. If the doctor feels that a special diet is required, a nutritionist will help plan out what should and should not be included to make the diet an MS healthy diet.

Posted in Multiple Sclerosis | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis

Posted on January 14, 2012 by AnneLockhart

Diagnosed with Multiple SclerosisFor many people, a diagnosis of multiple sclerosis is one step closer to treatment of a host of symptoms that have possibly been unexplained for a long time, sometimes years. The symptoms associated with this disease are so varied that many doctors are stymied as to their origin and the patient simply has to keep seeking answers until the right tests are performed and all the pieces of the puzzle come together.

What is MS?

Multiple sclerosis is a disease of the auto-immune system in which the Myelin Sheath that insulates the nerves is attacked and damaged. This damage prevents the nerves from communicating with each other properly and thus a host of symptoms begins to occur. Many of the symptoms are identical to those of other diseases and some are simply baffling to doctors. This makes diagnosing the disease hard and often time consuming.

Testing

In order to diagnose multiple sclerosis, the doctor must first have a complete overview of the symptoms that are being experienced. The combination of many different symptoms should lead to testing for multiple sclerosis. The difficulty lies in the fact that no two MS patients have identical symptoms. However, if MS is suspected, the doctor should order tests, including:

  • Brain and spine MRI which allows the doctor to look for specific inflammation and lesions.
  • Spinal Tap
  • Neurological testing known as nerve conduction tests to look for nerve damage.
  • Sed Rate: This is a lab test that will also indicate if inflammation is present.

A complete physical exam will also be done and will include coordination and strength tests to determine if those have been affected by anything, which, in this case would be the MS.

Treatment

Once the testing is completed and a diagnosis has been made, the next most important step is treatment of the disease. There are medications that will assist with the inflammation and symptoms and provide the necessary relief needed to live as symptom free as possible. There are multiple forms of treatment that doctors will provide and explain such as:

  • Medications for many of the symptoms associated with MS such as fatigue, pain when walking, nausea and vomiting, UTI, spastic muscles, depression and much more. Some medications are available without a prescription, such as those for constipation and others are only available with a prescription.
  • Self-care techniques and rehabilitative therapy: This includes therapy to help with any cognitive symptoms such as speech therapy, physical therapy and occupational therapy.

Rehabilitation Programs: These are programs designed to help with MS symptoms that have become severe and affected daily life. These programs help patients learn or relearn how to perform daily living functions despite having disabilities.

Rehabilitation programs should be considered part of an ongoing treatment for MS, as the disease progresses there are different types of programs, such as therapy for swallowing and speaking, physical therapy to assist with mobility and muscle tone, vocational rehabilitation, and cognitive rehabilitation.

Doctors and therapists, along with input from the patient, will put together a treatment plan for the newly diagnosed patient. This plan will be reassessed over time to ensure that it is meeting the needs of the patient adequately.

Disclosure

One of the first things many newly diagnosed MS patients ponder is who to tell, if anyone. There is no right or wrong answer as this is a personal decision. The important thing to keep in mind is that support is an important tool in fighting any disease.

Family members may be a support tool that is needed during this time. Friends don’t have to be told at first, unless there are some very close friends that will offer the needed support to deal with the disease.

Before disclosing the disease to employers, the newly diagnosed patient should carefully research the Americans with Disabilities Act and weigh the cost of disclosing the disease. Many people with MS decide not to inform their employer until they simply have to due to symptoms becoming too bad to continue working.

The decision about whether or not to tell people about being diagnosed with MS is not one that should be made on the spur of the moment. Although it shouldn’t matter, many people don’t want others to pity them or think they are disabled. The shock of the disease may at first have friends and family stunned and puzzled; however, if they research the symptoms and learn more about the disease they will soon see that it is okay to ask questions and act normally.

Ultimately, being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis is a life-changing experience that requires an adjustment period. However, once a treatment plan is put in place and family and friends understand the disease, it can be dealt with like any other disease and life lived to the fullest.

Posted in Diagnosis | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Definition of Multiple Sclerosis

Posted on January 7, 2012 by AnneLockhart

Definition of Multiple SclerosisMultiple sclerosis is a disease that attacks the central nervous system. This disease is considered an inflammatory disease and tends to attack younger people and women in particular. The definition of multiple sclerosis is much more in depth than simply being an inflammatory disease of the central nervous system and varies depending on who is explaining the disease. This disease has many facets and symptoms that are different for every person who is diagnosed with is and this article attempts to define the disease in the best possible manner for people who have it and want to understand more about it.

Many Symptoms, One Disease

Multiple sclerosis presents itself in many different ways in different people. No two people will have the exact same set of symptoms. This variation in indicators is part of what makes multiple sclerosis hard to diagnose. Some of the most common symptoms that can be indicative of multiple sclerosis include those listed below; however, this should not be considered an exhaustive list as there can be many other symptoms depending on the extent of the disease and the part of the body that is being attacked the most.

  • Weakness or generalized fatigue
  • Numbness in various limbs of the body
  • Vertigo
  • Loss of balance
  • Weak bladder
  • Weak or poor vision
  • Coordination problems
  • Dexterity problems
  • Loss of pain sensation
  • Mental distress such as mania or depression
  • Heat sensitivity – this is the worsening of other symptoms when exposed to heat.
  • Cognitive issues such as impaired thinking.
  • Muscle spasms in the arms and legs
  • Abnormal sensations such as prickly feelings, burning, stabbing feelings that are not life threatening but are unexplained.
  • Speech problems
  • Swallowing problems
  • Tremors – if present, tremors are hard to treat and can be debilitating.
  • Breathing problems – more rare than most of the other symptoms.
  • Seizures – also more rare than other symptoms.

If these symptoms are present and the doctor has had some experience with multiple sclerosis then testing will be done to determine if MS is the cause of these symptoms.

Neurological testing must be done and there has to be at least two indicators in the brain or spinal cord. Lesions on the white matter of the brain are one indicator that could be present to diagnose the disease.

Symptoms do not present themselves in the same manner or course in every person. Some people may start with only one symptom while others may have many different symptoms. The level of progression of the symptoms will also vary from person to person.

Different Levels of Multiple Sclerosis

In addition to diagnosing multiple sclerosis, the doctor must also determine at which level of multiple sclerosis the patient is presenting. There are three such levels or types of multiple sclerosis: relapse remitting, progressive and primary progressive, each described below.

Relapse remitting multiple sclerosis is typically the first type of multiple sclerosis to be diagnosed in a person. This type is part of what makes diagnosing MS difficult because, as the name implies, there are periods of active disease and periods of remission. These back and forth symptomatic periods come and go with no warning that they are going to occur. This stage of MS may continue for years or for a short period of time.

As multiple sclerosis progresses, the remission stages become shorter and the symptoms of the disease tend to worsen, this is known as secondary progressive multiple sclerosis. This stage happens at differing time periods of the disease. Some people will have a longer time in the relapsing remitting stage than others; however, secondary progressive tends to manifest at or around the ten year mark of having the disease.

Primary progressive is the worst level of multiple sclerosis and typically has no remission periods. This is the level of the disease that is the extreme end of the disease and typically signifies a shortening of life expectancy. It is hard to predict when this phase of the disease will manifest and is usually only diagnosed by the lack of remission periods.

These various phases or types of multiple sclerosis are highly unpredictable and difficult to diagnosis. Some people may go for as many as ten years without a flare up of the disease while others may have more frequent bouts and go from one extreme to the other. Doctors have to be very diligent in their testing and diagnosis of this disease in order to be certain they have made the correct diagnosis.

Defining multiple sclerosis is not as easy as reading a medical textbook and choosing the right disease. There are simply too many symptoms and signs that can point to many other diseases. Doctors must rely on testing of the brain and spinal cord combined with the presentation of symptoms in order to make a correct diagnosis.

Posted in Multiple Sclerosis | Tagged , | Leave a comment