LiveWiseMS Newsletter: August 2017

Today is National Relaxation Day! Although technically not a nationally recognized holiday, this day serves as the perfect reminder for all of us to take steps in reducing stress from our lives. It has been proven that stress has negative effects on the brain, and it is recommended that people with multiple sclerosis try to lessen the stress in their lives.

From the article, Calm Your Mind, here are some recommended ways to relax and alleviate stress:

Think Positive. Studies have shown that people who reported more positive experiences and a better mood throughout the day had lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol.

Be Mindful. Spending a few minutes every day meditating or practicing mindfulness will help ease anxiety and lower stress hormones.

Get Active. Choose an activity you enjoy and try to be physically active for at least 20 to 30 minutes each day. Anything that gets you moving vigorously will help reduce stress. (As always, check in with your physician before starting any new exercise program.)

Laugh. Laughing makes you feel good, and some evidence even suggests that laughter can deactivate stress hormones.

Listen to music. Music has a powerful effect on the brain, and can induce the release of calming hormones, thereby reducing stress.

Be social. There is strong evidence that being socially active boosts cognitive ability and eases any sense of loneliness.

National Relaxation Day is an excellent excuse to unwind and take care of yourself today! Review additional articles on the importance of Emotional Health when living with multiple sclerosis.

Below are some of the most recent resources on LiveWiseMS.org:

Emergency room considerations for the MS patient [Video]
What precautions an individual with MS should take to make certain that, should they require emergency care, the Emergency Department staff is aware of their disease and medications.
Watch Video >>

Calm Your Mind
Stress can wreak havoc on the brain, especially if you have a neurologic condition. This article explains how to manage stress and lessen its negative effects.
Read More >>

The Dating Game
Finding a date is always daunting. When you have a neurologic condition, it can be overwhelming. This article features advice from people who've been there to help you navigate the challenges.
Read More >>

Precision medicine in multiple sclerosis
This article highlights recent studies on MRI and body fluid molecular biomarkers with potential implications in diagnosis, prognosis, and response to treatment in indivduals with multiple sclerosis (MS).
Read More >>

Novel MRI and PET markers of neuroinflammation in multiple sclerosis
Novel MRI and PET techniques improve in-vivo visualization and quantification of the pleomorphic aspects of neuroinflammation, providing us with a unique insight in its pathogenesis, clinical relevance, and therapy responsiveness in MS.
Read More >>


REVIEW MORE RESOURCES >>

Fighting off "the pit".

When I was discussing this battle with depression with the nurse practitioner during my last appointment at the MS clinic, she suggested that perhaps I suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). Of course! SAD made perfect sense to me! My depression always seems to start off slowly in the autumn and intensify in the winter months. It is no secret that winter and I don't get along, and every relapse I've ever had has been during the winter months.

So this year, I've decided that I'm going to be proactive with "the pit" and explore the different treatment options. Read More >>

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