What Lifestyle Causes MS?
Multiple sclerosis is a neurodegenerative disorder that causes your immune system to attack the myelin sheath of your nerves. This can impact the way your nerves function and even prevent new myelin production that would otherwise stabilize vulnerable nerves.
As the medical field becomes more advanced and ongoing research is conducted, scientists are learning more about how lifestyle factors relate to MS. Continue reading to find out what type of lifestyle can worsen your multiple sclerosis.
Multiple Sclerosis Symptoms
Since your nerves and their ability to send signals are impaired, multiple sclerosis presents a variety of symptoms throughout the body, such as:
- Excessive fatigue
- Pain in the arms, legs, and back
- Numbness and tingling
- Loss of bowel or bladder control
- Difficulty walking
- Loss of balance
- Brain fog or trouble concentrating
Multiple sclerosis is often characterized by flare-ups or periods during which symptoms are at their worst. Many people go into remission from MS for weeks to months at a time. If you lead a healthy lifestyle, you can prolong your time in remission for years before experiencing another MS flare-up. Read on to learn how your lifestyle factors can impact your MS diagnosis.
How Lifestyle Factors Impact MS
To reduce multiple sclerosis flare-ups, reduce the severity of symptoms, or slow the progression of this condition, it is important to lead a healthy lifestyle. Research suggests that a number of factors can lead to a better multiple sclerosis prognosis overall. These include the following:
Diet
People who follow an unhealthy diet are more likely to have a poor MS prognosis and experience severe, frequent flare-ups. A diet that is high in sugar, processed foods, and unhealthy fats is not recommended for people with this condition.
By contrast, a diet that is high in fruits and vegetables is a good idea for MS patients. You should also consume a good number of whole grains, lean proteins, and foods rich in vitamins and minerals.
Smoking and Drinking
Another factor that can impact your struggle with multiple sclerosis is partaking in unhealthy habits like smoking or alcohol consumption. Patients who smoke cigarettes are more likely to experience severe MS symptoms and chronic flare-ups. The same is true for those who drink alcohol very often.
Exercise
Physical activity is one of the primary factors impacting the progression of multiple sclerosis. People who lead more active lifestyles and get frequent exercise are less likely to have severe MS symptoms and ongoing flare-ups. To improve your quality of life with multiple sclerosis, you should aim to get daily exercise by walking, jogging, swimming, or participating in group sports.
Treating Multiple Sclerosis
Are you currently living with multiple sclerosis? There are many treatment approaches to MS, including making changes to your lifestyle. Quitting smoking, eating a healthier diet, and getting more exercise can all reduce your MS symptoms and improve your prognosis overall. To learn more about lifestyle factors and multiple sclerosis, speak with your neurologist or medical team.
Some are exploring the option of regenerative medicine, also known as stem cell therapy. Regenerative medicine holds promise as a potential future approach for the treatment of Multiple Sclerosis (MS). The field of regenerative medicine aims to repair, replace, or regenerate damaged tissues and organs to restore their normal function. In the context of MS, the focus is on regenerating or repairing the damaged myelin and nerve cells in the central nervous system (CNS).
Individuals interested in MSC-based therapies for MS should consult with their healthcare provider or a regenerative medicine specialist to find out what options may be best for them.
This post was written by a medical professional at Stemedix Inc. At Stemedix we provide access to Regenerative Medicine also known as Stem Cell Therapy. Regenerative medicine has the natural potential to help improve symptoms sometimes lost from the progression of many conditions.
