Why
should people with MS be concerned with
heat and temperature?
A
rise in
temperature does not affect everyone with multiple sclerosis (MS), but
for many
people with MS at least some of their symptoms get worse when they get
hotter.
This temperature effect is sometimes described as Uhthoff’s
phenomenon, after
Dr. Wilhelm Uhthoff who first described it in 1890. The worsening of
symptoms
due to heat is widely recognized and very common. Studies have shown
that
nerves with damaged myelin are sensitive to changes in temperatures.
Researchers note that a rise in temperature may cause a failure in the
effective transmission of signals from the brain to the body (nerve
conduction), and a reduction in temperature may allow more signals to
be transmitted
across the damaged nerve.
Symptoms
may include: blurred vision
after exercise, fatigue, dizziness or a weakness in one or both legs.
Prolonged
exposure to heat might make fatigue worse, which might in turn make
other
symptoms feel worse. Although this temporary worsening of symptoms
(known as
pseudo-exacerbation) may feel like a real MS attack, the symptoms will
usually
improve as the bodies temperature returns to normal.
Heat
or exercise related symptoms may
be brought on by activity, sunbathing, hot baths, emotion, exercise,
fever or
other things associated with an increase in body temperature. Many
people with
MS find hot weather difficult, but, even in cooler weather, hot
showers, or
even just cooking in the kitchen or using a hair dryer can sometimes be
a
problem.
Why
does temperature affect people with MS?
Heat
appears
to stop
nerve fibers from working properly – if the fibers or their protective
outer
layer (myelin) have already been damaged by MS. Nerve fibers allow
messages
controlling different parts of the body to move around the brain and
spinal
cord, in the form of
electrical impulses. This is known as ‘nerve conduction’.
In
the brain
or spinal
cord, a nerve damaged by MS finds it harder to conduct these electrical
impulses. Messages may get through at normal temperatures, but they are
on the
verge of failure. Body warming makes conduction weaker still, so some
damaged nerve fibers
stop working entirely, until they are cooled down.
Listen to
your body and
take measures to cool down if you are feeling overheated.
What
can be done to manage
heat sensitivity?
Many
cooling methods are available
including some that are simple, such as:
drinking
cold liquids
cool
baths (start with warm or tepid water and increase the coldness to
avoid a
shockingly cold experience)
sitting
in front of a fan
Get
into an air conditioned building
keep a
hand-held
mini-fan in your bag
moisten
clothing
using a water spray
Unfortunately, many of
these
may be insufficient, uncomfortable or impractical while living a full,
active
life. The answer may be found in the many varieties of body cooling
garments
made especially for people with MS. These garments include cooling
vests, wrist
bands, neck and upper spine collars, hats and many other items.
The
Beneficial effects of cooling
garments have been noted in several clinical studies, and their use is
usually
well tolerated. They can be used
either as
preventative measures or ways to recover from overheating.
Note!
Before using any cooling garment or devise you should talk to your
health care professional.
Sources:
Cooling and Multiple Sclerosis MSAA
Multiple
Sclerosis Cooling Foundation
Multiple Sclerosis Society – UK
“Living with MS, newly diagnosed”
NMSS
