There are those of us that relapses are a big part of having MS. We seem to walk right into them. The next one is always around the bend. We need to be reminded every so often what to watch for and what to avoid. There are triggers that will cause us to have an attack. Hopefully with these ten suggestions you can avoid your next one.

1.
Get your flu shot and avoid people with colds, the flu, or any other contagious disease. We usually end up sick longer than most other people do.

2.
Stay inside in very hot or cold weather. Air conditioning in the summer and comfortable temperatures in the wintertime. Extreme temperature changes can make your symptoms worse.

3.
Take warm bathes or showers, hot water can aggravate your symptoms and make them worse. We want to try and avoid attacks not create them.

4.
Proper diet is also recommended. Following a balanced diet with green vegetables and dairy products helps. Also when you’re a female with MS you’re at risk of developing osteoporosis so take measures to get the proper amount of calcium.

5.
Going to bed early and getting up late may help with fatigue. Getting 8 hours sleep is a good idea even if you don’t have MS.

6.
Fatigue also can make symptoms worse so rest or nap when you need to.

7.
Stress is the hardest thing to avoid; we have to learn to control it. There are several techniques we can use such as deep breathing, relaxing our muscles, and meditation. I have also heard that yoga and self-defense help with relieving stress.

8.
We all feel stressed at one time or another. Talking to someone and getting your feelings off your chest helps to relieve it most times.

9.
Don’t be afraid to seek out professional help when its needed. Sometimes just having somebody who understands and who lets us ramble on is the best release for stress.

10.
If you are trying a new treatment or a suggestion your not sure about talk to your doctor or other health professional.

We can’t avoid everything that could cause a relapse but we can minimize our risks.