Author Archives: Marta Ribeiro

Coffee is one of the most famous drinks in the world. Everyone (or almost everyone) loves coffee in its many different ways. With or without sugar, black, with or without milk, coffee seems to always be a good choice. But did you know that drinking four to six cups of…

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.

Being diagnosed with a serious and complex disease such as multiple sclerosis can be a very complicated thing to deal with. After you get your diagnosis, you might start wondering what your life will be like, if your life will change and how you’ll have to adapt with your…

Being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) can be very difficult to deal with, but it’s even worse when you live with the disease for 17 years before being diagnosed — which is exactly what happened to Spencer. MORE: Eight less common signs of MS you might not…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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.

In this video from Roche, multiple sclerosis (MS) patient and advocate Shana and her partner Leo talk about the unpredictability of the condition. Shana explains that no two days are the same when you’re living with the disease. MORE: Eight tips for dealing with the heat when you have…

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…

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…

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…

“Alexa” is Amazon’s talking service that acts as a virtual personal assistant. According to tomsguide.com, as part of the company’s Echo speaker system, the voice-activated device can pick out music tracks for you, operate other electical devices, create to-do lists, and of course help you…

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.

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 …

Multiple sclerosis is a disease that is unique to each patient, which means no two people suffer from identical symptoms. While there are many symptoms MS patients share such as pain and chronic fatigue, there are also some very strange and unusual symptoms that some may experience. We've put together a list of some of the stranger symptoms of the disease based on information from verywell.com and healthcentral.com. 1. The body reacts to the weather. Many MS patients say their symptoms get worse depending on the weather. Humidity can exacerbate the symptoms of MS for many sufferers and some even report feeling strange when there is a thunderstorm—that their body buzzes and feels tingly in an uncomfortable and unpleasant way. 2. The body reacts to dental work. Some MS patients experience a worsening of symptoms following routine dental appointments. It hasn't been established whether this is stress-related (because few people enjoy visiting their dentist) or for some other reason and researchers have been unable to find a link between the two. 3. Sun exposure is a natural medicine. Conversely, although many MS patients cannot tolerate high temperatures, some report that cooler sunny days make them feel much better and lessens the effects of symptoms. This could be because the body is making vitamin D from the sun's rays. 4. The body reacts to flying. There have been reports of MS relapses during long-haul flights. There isn't any medical evidence to suggest why this is happening, and researchers have yet to prove whether it's due to altitude or being in a confined space for a long period of time. 5. The body twitches. While twitching and muscle spasms are common symptoms in other diseases of the central nervous system such as Parkinson's disease and ALS, it is not generally considered a common symptom of MS. However, many patients do report twitching and muscle spasms, usually in their limbs but also in their heads, torso, and even their vocal chords. 6. The feet become hot. Hot feet or extreme sensations of pins and needles in the feet is another one of the more unusual symptoms of MS. Some describe it like walking barefoot over gravel or that their feet are literally on fire even though they feel cool to the touch. This tends to be worse when people are in bed. 7. You feel like you're being hugged. Feeling like they are being tightly squeezed around the torso or stomach, some MS patients have reported suffering from this odd symptom. The pain is often so intense that patients experience difficulty breathing or fear they are having a heart attack.

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…

Life is tough for people with a chronic illness, but through the pain and the fatigue and all the other symptoms and side effects, they show an extraordinary passion for life and try to achieve as much as possible. With help from themighty.com, we’ve compiled a list of eight remarkable things…

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…

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…

What’s your nighttime routine like? In this humorous video from Gifted Lift, Lauren gives us a sneak peek into her nighttime routine as a person with a chronic illness. Find out more about Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Month here. Having a healthy snack, enjoying life to the fullest, checking in with friends, as…

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…

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…

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…