14 msfocusmagazine.org Health & Wellness • Stress – Manypeoplewith MSwill experience a temporary increase in symptoms when they are stressed. This is usually not a true relapse, however. • Infections – Infections may be associated with pseudorelapses. These may walk and talk like a relapse, but are being driven by the underlying infection. Urinary tract infections and upper respiratory infections are the most common culprits. (See Megan Weigel’s article on page 16 to learn more about pseudorelapses.) • Tobacco smoking – Several studies have shown that tobacco smoking may be associated with more severe and more frequent MS relapses. • VitaminD– Researchisincreasinglyshowing that vitamin D is important in MS. Having 25 hydroxy vitamin D levels above 50 has been associated with fewer MS relapses and MRI lesions. Don’t overdo it though. Excessive vitamin D can be harmful to your health. It’s best to base vitamin D dosing on blood levels, so work closely with your doctor. Understanding relapses is crucial in MS. There’s a lot going on with our complex immune system during an attack. While this presents challenges on one hand, it also means there are many opportunities for science to prevent relapses and move one step closer to a cure. What have you learned from an MS relapse? Boney Jennifer Mary: That you and you alone will be there. Each and every time your body fails you, you have to be your # 1 support system and keep reminding yourself this is hell, but you can do it. Dennis Tooley: Anytime your system gets too much inflammation, it can cause a flare up/relapse. When it happens, you need to slow down, reduce the inflammation and keep fighting the MonSter. A relapse is like a speed bump on the road of life. It will slow you down, but you can't let it stop you. Jessica Lowhorn Petroff: Never take good days for granted. Tamara Johnson: Accepting MS and adapting to it! Finding out what I am good for, while dealing with this MonSter. Cherie Binns: Rest and hydration. Cut out all processed sugars, (and for me glutens, dairy, and corn) as they are inflammation-producing foods. I really stop everything until I am feeling better. Rita Issacs: Listen to your body and slow down when feeling those familiar symptoms. I stop pushing myself, slow down, and rest until the numbness and tingling start to move out. Kessa Englert Connan: The only substitute for rest and sleep is rest and sleep. The body must rest in order to recover. Shereese Queen: I deal with it; I refuse to let it get me down. My child needs his mother. I'm a fighter.