Many people with MS experience a temporary worsening of their symptoms when the weather is very hot or humid, or when they run a fever. These temporary changes can result from even a slight elevation in core body temperature (one-quarter to one-half of a degree).
Some persons with MS may have worse symptoms with cold or cold and wet weather as well,” says Dr. Giesser. Before making a permanent move, look up the average annual snowfall for the places that interest you.
Seasonal effects on MS symptoms
The hotter it gets, the worse I feel. Fortunately, the effect is temporary, and once I find myself in cooler surroundings, such as after sunset, my condition improves, and I am no longer a prisoner in my air-conditioned home. September and October are ideal weather months for me.
Temperature changes can have an impact upon some symptoms experienced by people with MS. Colder temperatures can have an effect on nerves and muscle activity, leading to pain and mobility challenges including cramping, stiffness and spasticity.
If you have a condition like multiple sclerosis (MS), cold temps can make your symptoms worse and make you flat-out uncomfortable. You might find that it's harder to move your limbs, you get more muscle spasms than normal, or your muscles feel tighter. Doctors aren't sure why cold temperatures make MS symptoms worse.
To be a true exacerbation, the attack must last at least 24 hours and be separated from the previous attack by at least 30 days. Most MS exacerbations last from a few days to several weeks or even months.
Numbness of the face, body, or extremities (arms and legs) is often the first symptom experienced by those eventually diagnosed as having MS.
What causes exacerbations? Exacerbations (relapses) are caused by inflammation in the central nervous system (CNS). The inflammation damages the myelin, slowing or disrupting the transmission of nerve impulses and causing the symptoms of MS.
The strongest known risk factor for MS is infection with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). Compared with uninfected individuals, the hazard of developing MS is approximately 15-fold higher among individuals infected with EBV in childhood and about 30-fold higher among those infected with EBV in adolescence or later in life.
There's no cure for multiple sclerosis, but benign MS is the mildest form of the condition.
Answer one is January. In modern times, the first month of the year traditionally reaches the coldest temperatures. Are you old enough to remember Jan. 21, 1985, when it was 4 degrees Fahrenheit?
The connection between vitamin D and MS is strengthened by the association between sunlight and the risk of MS . The farther away from the equator a person lives, the higher the risk of MS . Sunlight is the body's most efficient source for vitamin D — suggesting that exposure to sunlight may offer protection from MS .
Is MS worse in the morning or at night? Symptoms of MS can be better or worse at different times of the day. For example, spasticity can worsen at night, while fatigue can worsen during the day and after activities. However, this is unique to each person.
In a relapse, an attack (episode) of symptoms occurs. During a relapse, symptoms develop (described below) and may last for days but usually last for 2-6 weeks. They sometimes last for several months. Symptoms of MS then ease or go away (remit).
People with multiple sclerosis can qualify for Medicare coverage before age 65 if Social Security determines that they are permanently disabled and they have received Social Security disability benefits for 24 months.
People living with MS often continue working long after their diagnosis. On the flip side, some people with MS decide to leave their jobs when they are first diagnosed or experience their first major exacerbation, often at the suggestion of their family or doctor.
People may experience blurred vision, double vision, eye pain or loss of color vision. Difficulty articulating words or swallowing and slurred speech may occur if there's damage to the area that controls the mouth and throat.
Here's where MS (typically) starts
Although a number of MS symptoms can appear early on, two stand out as occurring more often than others: Optic neuritis, or inflammation of the optic nerve, is usually the most common, Shoemaker says. You may experience eye pain, blurred vision and headache.
MS symptoms can come and go and change over time. They can be mild, or more severe. The symptoms of MS are caused by your immune system attacking the nerves in your brain or spinal cord by mistake.
Multiple sclerosis symptoms typically won't send you to the emergency department, but there may be instances when you need care quickly. Symptoms related to multiple sclerosis (MS) are rarely life threatening, but they can be painful and frightening — and may lead you to consider a trip to the hospital.
A remission can last for weeks, months, or, in some cases, years. But remission doesn't mean you no longer have MS. MS medications can help reduce the chances of developing new symptoms, but you still have MS. Symptoms will likely return at some point.