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Sun exposure improves MS symptoms - research

Posted: Tue Jul 09, 2013 12:59 am
by MSUK
Increased exposure to sunlight may help alleviate the depression and fatigue associated with multiple sclerosis (MS), and may even reduce the overall level of disability caused by the disease, research suggests.

Prior research has linked both vitamin D deficiency and lower levels of unprotected sun exposure to a higher risk of developing MS. Likewise, other studies have linked lower vitamin D levels to higher rates of depression. Because depression, along with anxiety, fatigue and cognitive impairment, are common and potentially disabling symptoms of MS, researchers from Maastricht University Medical Center in the Netherlands recently conducted a study to examine the relationship between these separate factors. The study was recently published in the journal Acta Neurologica Scandinavica............. Read More - http://www.ms-uk.org/index.cfm/vitaminD

Re: Sun exposure improves MS symptoms - research

Posted: Tue Jul 09, 2013 7:35 am
by Alphasig1514
My dr actually recommended exposure to sunlight to help with the Vitamin D. My levels arent low by any means, I take a supplement, but he said it wouldnt hurt.
My job hours dont allow me much 'sun time' as I work 10am-9pm so I use a tanning bed. The dr of course said that real sunlight is best and of course we all know the dangers of tanning beds, but it at least gets me some exposure.

Re: Sun exposure improves MS symptoms - research

Posted: Tue Jul 09, 2013 11:27 pm
by gymbuff
I love the sun but you can't have sun without heat and I get drained of energy in really sunny weather like we are having at present. This aspect of MS kinda annoys because if the weather is too hot I can't get much work done in my garden and when the weather is cold or wet I can't much work done either. There are not many different weather options to the three mentioned above. Having said that I love trying to keep my garden under control and 1 hour gardening requires 2 hours rest

Re: Sun exposure improves MS symptoms - research

Posted: Wed Jul 10, 2013 8:29 am
by Alphasig1514
I love working out in my garden as well but like you said, the heat just drains you. I can mow my yard, which takes an hour on the rider, and then I have to rest for about an hour. The weedeating takes me about 45 mins and that requires me to be done for the day or rest for about 3 hrs.
I used to spend hours in the yard and digging in the dirt.
Now its all I can do to keep the grass mowed and weeds down.
I have to get a happy balance as I have iris' that need to be separated and moved this year....may have to take time off work just to get my yard stuff done.
Used to be I could work in the yard all day and into the night (we have flood lights which allow me to keep going even in the dark) but now I cant do even 1/4 of what I used to be able to do.
Makes me very sad as that was my 'me time' and gave me an escape.