Wellness and Multiple Sclerosis
Rebecca Spain, MD, MSPH, FAAN
MS and your general medical health go hand in hand. This means it’s just as important to take charge of your general health as it is to keep on top of your MS care. People with MS are just as likely to have medical conditions like high blood pressure, high cholesterol, heart disease, diabetes, and cancers as anyone else, so it is important to have a yearly primary care visit. During these visits, your primary care provider can manage your existing health problems, screen for new health conditions, and make sure you get your routine health screenings.
Likewise, to successfully manage your MS, it is also important to see an MS specialist at least once a year. An MS specialist is generally someone in the neurology, rehabilitation, or spinal cord injury department who has additional training in the diagnosis and treatment of MS. MS specialists can help figure out if your symptoms are due to your MS or due to other medical problems. The annual MS evaluation will update your neurological history and your current neurological examination. Your yearly MS visit is a great opportunity to find out the latest in MS treatments and symptom management and to discuss ways to stay active with your family and friends.
Your MS specialist and primary care provider work closely together to look out for you. To help prepare for efficient and productive medical visits, bring a list of all your medications, including the ones prescribed by non-VA providers (doctors, nurses, naturopaths, etc.), and those purchased over the counter. Bring in any non-VA medical records and test results. Write a list of your most important questions ahead of time. Tell all of your health concerns to both your MS specialist and primary care provider so that they can decide who can best address each concern. Your MS specialist and primary care provider may ask you similar questions because they are important to your general well-being, such as:
- How well are you able to perform self-care such as walking, bathing, dressing, transfers, eating, meal preparation, and other chores?
- What type of assistance or equipment do you require to perform self-care?
- Are you experiencing difficulties with work or your daily activities?
- How much tobacco and alcohol do you use? Do you use any other substances?
- What type of social support do you have from family, friends, and your community?
How important is your general health care to your MS?
Dr. R. A. Marrie and colleagues reviewed a large North American MS database and found that people with MS who also had even one vascular disease risk factor - high blood pressure, high cholesterol, heart disease, peripheral vascular disease, or diabetes - had MS walking problems an average of 6 years sooner than those without those conditions. Preventing and treating these health conditions can delay MS disability and increase your independence. Vascular risk factors are largely preventable and all treatable with a healthy diet, regular exercise, medications, and positive mindset. Diet, exercise, and strong mental health are absolutely necessary to staying well with MS.
The VA has many resources to help achieve these goals such as the VA MOVE! Weight Management and Whole Health programs. Take charge of your wellness with MS by taking the time for your yearly MS and primary care visits in order to live at your best.
