According to the New York Times, the type of symptoms for multiple sclerosis varies for everyone. However, no matter what kind of discomfort you experience, it can have a negative impact on your lifestyle. Even the mildest symptoms can affect your outlook if you are not careful. Being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis makes it more important than ever to take control and better monitor your health. MS starts when the nerve coverings are damaged by inflammation. The location of the damage varies and affects the kind of symptoms that you have. The symptoms may be mild to severe, but you may be able to reduce them by making an effort to get plenty of rest, eat better, lower stress levels, and take supplements.
Boost Your Immune System
Most people with MS experience low energy levels. When your body is frequently fatigued, your immune system suffers. Check with your doctor prior to taking any new supplements or medications, as I take 200 milligrams of Coenzyme Q10 each day to help boost my immune system. CoQ10 is found naturally in cells, but the disease and some prescription drugs cause the levels of Coenzyme Q10 in the body to run low. You can also take other supplements such as vitamin C and Echinacea.
Vitamin K
Vitamin K is another nutrient that MS depletes. If you have multiple sclerosis then there is a good chance that your blood has difficulty clotting. Whether internal or external, it is imperative that your body is able to stop abnormal blood flow. Vitamin K is available in supplement form as well as in several foods. You can find vitamin K in foods such as olive oil, onions, asparagus, spinach, okra, raw parsley, kale, lettuce, and turnip greens.
Be sure to talk to your doctor before implementing extra vitamin K into your diet because it may react with some prescription medications.
Help Yourself Sleep
There are many different ways to help yourself get more rest. If you have the budget for it, consider getting routine massages to help relax your body and improve muscle function that you may have lost due to MS. There are also supplements that you can take such as valerian. It comes in capsule form as well as in a tincture or tea. Valerian is found in the root of a plant located in Europe andAsia. It relaxes the nervous system and causes drowsiness.
Another natural sleep aid is melatonin. According to WebMD, melatonin is a hormone that the brain already secretes. It controls your sleep cycle and helps you remain asleep during the night. Taking melatonin in supplement form before bed helps promote a deep sleep.
Multiple sclerosis can be a debilitating condition to have, but if you choose to make some simple, healthy lifestyle changes then you may be able to increase your energy, improve your outlook on life, and reduce the symptoms that plague you.