Marta Ribeiro,  —

Marta graduated from Universidade Fernando Pessoa in Porto with a degree in Communication Sciences and a Masters degree in New Communication Technologies. She has experience in social media, worked with several media channels, and has also worked as a freelance photographer and a graphic artist for almost 10 years.

Articles by Marta Ribeiro

How Doctors Treat Spasticity in Multiple Sclerosis

Spasticity is where the muscles become stiffened and often spasm due to nerve damage — it’s a common symptom associated with multiple sclerosis (MS). MORE: Six of the best apps for managing chronic illness Generally, the spasticity occurs in the arms and legs and may impact the way a person can move their limbs.

6 Tips for MS Patients, Families and Loved Ones

Multiple sclerosis is a difficult disease to live with. With no known cure, patients often find the day-to-day struggle very challenging. But they’re not the only ones who live with the disease — friends, family and loved ones also have to learn how to deal. To help everyone cope better, we’ve put together a list of six…

Is MS Making You Itchy?

Living with MS is no walk in the park. Besides all the symptoms that patients endure, there are also side effects that are caused by treatments and external factors. One of those side effects is often feeling itchy. MORE: Do all treatments have side effects? One of our bloggers…

5 Tools Used to Diagnose Multiple Sclerosis

It’s never a good idea to jump to conclusions when trying to find a cause for any symptoms you might have. With multiple sclerosis (MS), self-diagnosing is not the way to go. This disease may cause permanent damage even in its earliest stages so it’s crucial to get it properly diagnosed as soon…

15 Multiple Sclerosis-Inspired Tattoos

Getting a tattoo shouldn’t be taken lightly. It’s a piece of art that will be on your body for life and therefore, should represent something that’s near and dear to your heart. With that in mind, it’s no surprise that many who suffer from a chronic illness choose to add permanent messages…

3 Things to Consider When Telling People You Have Multiple Sclerosis

Accepting a multiple sclerosis diagnosis is difficult and it often takes people a while to come to terms with what it means for their future. Some people choose to tell others immediately about their MS diagnosis, while others may bide their time — there is no right or wrong way to approach it, it's very much up to the individual and what they feel comfortable with. However, if you're finding it difficult to tell the people closest to you about your multiple sclerosis, the Multiple Sclerosis Society UK has some useful advice. Telling Your Loved Ones: Family members and partners are usually the first people you want to tell, but these are the hardest people to tell as they love you and will most likely be upset. They'll need time to fully digest the news and come to terms with the diagnosis. They may be in denial about what it means or they may not fully understand the implications of MS. Try to be as informative as you can and remember MS is different for everyone, so while they may jump to the worst conclusions about the disease, it doesn't mean that's how it will work out for you. Tell children as much as you think they can emotionally cope with and fully understand for their age. It's better to be as honest as possible so they don't find out information from other people. Children are often more adaptive to change than adults and will probably take the news a little better. Choosing Who Else to Tell: You don't need to tell everyone you meet that you have multiple sclerosis (although you can if you want to), but there are some people you may want to know right away so that they can offer you emotional support. Close friends will want to support and help you in any way they can, and sometimes they may be easier to talk to than family as they tend to be more objective. Telling colleagues about your MS will help them understand why you may be fatigued or unable to work. Telling dates and potential partners can be tricky, you may want to be upfront or you may want to wait to see if you like them before broaching the subject. Either way is fine. Dealing With Different Reactions: You will find that people can often react very differently to your news. Some may be very upset and grieve, others may be upbeat and positive about your outcome. Some may even withdraw and avoid you — they do this because they don't know what to say or how to handle the situation. Others may bombard you with questions that you can't answer. You may find that you have to reassure people and explain that having MS doesn't mean that you can't live a happy and successful life. It's important you emphasize that you're still the same person you were before your diagnosis and you want to be treated the same. How have you dealt with this issue? Be sure to visit Multiple Sclerosis News Today and leave a comment.

How Massage and Bodywork Is Used to Treat MS Patients

Massages are known to relieve pain, stress and help out with problem areas. According to the National MS Society, it’s one of the most well-known bodywork treatments. There are several kinds of massages that originated in different countries — below are some of the most used today. MORE: Massage helps with MS pain and fatigue The Swedish massage is a bit more “traditional.” It uses techniques such as vibration, kneading, and friction. The German massage uses most of the same techniques as the Swedish massage, but combines them with healing baths. Keep in mind that if you’re sensitive to heat, this might not be the best option for you. Acupressure sounds like acupuncture, and that’s no mistake. This treatment is a Chinese massage that originated from acupuncture and uses fingers to stimulate the same parts of the body as needles do. Shiatsu is a Japanese treatment that focuses on preventing conditions, not healing…

Important Things to Remember If You Have MS

If you or a loved one is living with multiple sclerosis (MS), it’s important to remember that you can always try to make your situation better. If your doctor says something like “there’s no other option” or “we have nothing more to offer you,” find another doctor. Doctors are humans, too, and they…

18 Common Home Modifications to Improve Life With MS

As your MS progresses, you may find it necessary to make some modifications to your home to make it safer and more accessible. Such alterations can vastly improve the quality of life for people living with the disease, allowing them to regain some independence and making life more comfortable. Here are some common…

How Doctors Treat Spasticity in Multiple Sclerosis

Spasticity is where the muscles become stiffened and often spasm due to nerve damage — it’s a common symptom associated with multiple sclerosis (MS). MORE: Six of the best apps for managing chronic illness Generally, the spasticity occurs in the arms and legs and may impact the way a person can move their limbs.

6 of the Most Common Symptoms of Chronic Fatigue

If you suffer from a chronic illness like MS, then it’s highly likely that you’ll experience fatigue from time to time. Fatigue is different than just feeling tired, and generally it’s not something that can be fixed with an early night or by taking a little break. With tips from the pros at …

#CSMC17 in Photos: What’s Happening At The Meeting

The Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers (CMSC) focuses on improvements and advancements in care for those living with multiple sclerosis. Typically hosting more than 2,000 attendees and 70 exhibitors, the event is the premier North American educational conference for international clinicians and scientists working in MS care and research, as well as members…

Eating These Foods Can Help You Get Your Daily Dose of Vitamin D

Most of us have probably been reminded to take our vitamins, or pushed to eat something because it’s “full of vitamins”—and it’s true, getting vitamins is incredibly important. Especially during the winter when some people experience Seasonal Affective Disorder, which can be impacted by low levels of vitamin D. But that’s not…

6 Common Symptoms of Chronic Fatigue

As part of MS Awareness Month, we’re talking about how chronic fatigue can play a big role in multiple sclerosis. If you suffer from a chronic illness like MS, then it’s highly likely that you’ll experience fatigue from time to time. Fatigue is different than just feeling tired, and generally it’s not something that…

#MSAwarenessMonth: ‘What Is MS?’ Challenge

As we celebrate Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Month, we’re asking you to share what MS means to you. To participate, just grab a piece of paper and write down what MS means to you. (Don’t forget to include #MSNewsToday.) Take a selfie (or ask someone to take the picture of you) holding the piece of…

6 Foods That Can Help You Fight a Cold or Flu

Winter is a perilous time if you have a compromised immune system, but you can’t stay alone inside for four months. You have to get on with your daily life, and just hope you don’t succumb to other people’s bugs and illnesses. However, there are some foods that can help you avoid catching a cold…

#ACTRIMS2017 – This Year’s Hot Topics

Editor’s choice: Patrícia Silva holds her PhD in Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases from the Leiden University Medical Center in Leiden, The Netherlands. She has studied Applied Biology at Universidade do Minho and was a postdoctoral research fellow at Instituto de Medicina Molecular in Lisbon, Portugal. Her work has been focused on…

What is Brain Fog?

Brain fog is one of the most common symptoms of many chronic illnesses, including lupus, multiple sclerosis and fibromyalgia. In this Mind Over Meniere’s video, Glenn describes how brain fog affects him on a daily basis. Discover some Pilates exercises suitable for multiple sclerosis patients.  Brain fog is more…

6 Tips to Reduce Stress and Help You Relax

Everyone suffers from stress from time to time but when you have a chronic disease, stress not only adds to your everyday burden but can often exacerbate the symptoms of your condition. While we can’t avoid stress altogether, there are ways that we help ourselves relax more and not let things…

14 Invisible Illnesses You May Not Know About

Invisible illnesses are conditions patients have that are not obvious when looking at them. Often people with an invisible illness face a lot of prejudice; others accuse them of faking, lying or exaggerating their illness. People just don’t fully understand what patients with invisible illnesses are going through.

Firsthand Experiences: What It’s Like Living With MS

Living with an autoimmune disease can feel isolating. While everyone around you continues with their lives, yours can feel as if it’s being turned upside down. Glass half full turns to class half empty. That feeling can be even more true with multiple sclerosis (MS), a condition that you’re…

26 Tips to Help Manage Common MS Symptoms

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a complex and diverse condition which can result in several different symptoms, that may or not may be the same among patients. While not everyone may experience the same MS symptoms, the most common ones can be difficult to address and cope with. To help you…

8 Tips to Help You Stay Active Through the Holidays

Exercise is crucial for people with multiple sclerosis to help slow down the decline of lung function and to maintain overall health. Unfortunately, not every MS patient can exercise since this capability might be compromised due to a more advanced stage of the disease. For those who can and since over the…

15 Multiple Sclerosis-Inspired Tattoos

Here are 15 multiple sclerosis (MS) tattoos that will inspire you. RIBBON WITH WINGS | MS Awareness Ribbon with Angel Wings… tattoo | Multiple Sclerosis pic.twitter.com/Nj7DpDybIz — tattoo4y (@Tattoo4y) March 13, 2016 Learn more about how Shemar Moore…