comorbidities

A quiet MS week that’s just too darned loud to think

Big breath, for my travails below necessitate a catch-up on my story so far. For once, my multiple sclerosis and the myriad joyous comorbidities itā€™s conferred on me ā€”Ā trigeminal neuralgia, lymphedema, diplopia, spasticity ā€” have given me a break. So have the fellow travelers who’ve…

MS comorbidities make me a stranger in a strange body

I was never a hypochondriac until multiple sclerosis (MS) whacked me. A catastrophic fall while playing tennis in 2007 resulted in a shoulder separation that took two operations to fix. The pain was so bad that, at the time, MS was just something else I had. To be accurate,…

Up at 9, in bed by 8, yet still no time?

My sleep schedule, according to mathematics, leaves me 11 hours ā€” so whatā€™s my problem? My current ultra-efficient carers arrive at 9:30 a.m. and usually get me into the wet room 15 minutes later. Maybe 20 if my bottom has been misbehaving. Itā€™s been something of a miscreant ever since…

Seeing Double, and Iā€™m Not Even Drunk!

I only had my glasses for two years, yet reading anything on my phone was now nigh impossible. Still, it did cure my Facebook and Twitter addiction. Yer, yer, Iā€™m old. (Iā€™m 64, you know.) Sure, Iā€™ve written this before ā€” surely thatā€™s a free pass for us aged folk.

MS Tied to 75% Increased Risk of Mortality in US Study

The overall risk of death is about 75% higher for people with multiple sclerosis (MS) than in the general population, according to a new study. “The association was independent of demographic, socioeconomic variables, lifestyle factors, baseline diabetes, cardiovascular disease, chronic respiratory disease, and cancer status,” researchers wrote. The study,…

Health Status of Immigrants With MS Complex, Canadian Study Finds

A number of health conditions ā€” including high blood pressure, migraines, schizophrenia, and rheumatoid arthritis ā€” are more common among immigrants to Canada who haveĀ multiple sclerosis (MS) than those without MS, an observational study reported. Compared with long-term residents with MS, immigrants with this disease were less likely to…

Accepting a New Diagnosis

I have long preached the merits of acceptance. In embracing my MS, I have mitigated much of the accompanying fear. This modus operandi has enabled me to live alongside my disease as opposed to clashing with it. While ideal, it is becoming increasingly difficult to follow my advice. Two…

Anxiety and Depression Linked to RRMS Relapse Risk, Study Finds

Comorbidities such as anxiety and depression are associated with a significantly increased risk of relapse in people with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS), a clinical trial analysis has found.Ā  Anxiety and abnormal blood lipids (fats) also increased the risk of any RRMS disease activity.Ā  Based on those findings, researchers…

Need to Know: What Is an MS Mimic?

Editor’s note: “Need to Knowā€ is a series inspired by common forum questions and comments from readers. Have a comment or question about MS? Visit our forum. This week’s question is inspired by the forum topicĀ “Is it an MS Diagnosis or is it something else? ” from July…

Betwixt and Between

Usually, I have an idea of what I’m going to write. Today, all I feel is a bit meeeeughĀ … Which is more a sound of ennui than a recognizable word. In these days of multimedia, I suppose I should record it and insert the clip into the text, but…

Comorbidities Among MS Patients in US Range from High Cholesterol and Blood Pressure to Anxiety, Study Reports

Comobidities are common in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients in the U.S., with the mostĀ frequent being high cholesterolĀ and blood pressure, followed by gastrointestinal disease, thyroid disease, and anxiety, a database analysis reports. But distinctions exist between the sexes, this claims analysis found. High cholesterol and blood pressure, as well as diabetes…

MS Patients Treated in Clinical Practice with Fingolimod Show Benefits

New research evaluating fingolimodā€™s clinical efficacy, safety, and tolerability in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) largely supported its use, finding that the oral drugā€™s efficacy in a real-world settingĀ was comparable to results observed in Phase 3Ā clinical studies. The research article, ā€œEfficacy and Safety of Fingolimod in an Unselected…

Comorbidities More Prevalent With Multiple Sclerosis Diagnosis

While multiple sclerosis is most typically associated with progressively declining physical ability, multiple sclerosis patients are often times affected by a number of physical and mental health comorbidities in addition to their worsening physical ability. This observation was highlighted by a group of researchers in Scotland led by Drs.