Heat and MS...Simple Exercise

There are many tips and tricks for dealing with heat:
~Wear natural fibres to allow the body to breathe (and remember that this includes underwear)
~Drink plenty of fluids - this is absolutely vital as dehydration has many of the same symptoms as MS
~Cut out unnecessary activity (there is plenty of time to catch up when the weather cools down)
~Sit in the shade (you will tan just as well)
~If you do overheat wring out a tea-towel or similar in very cold water and wrap it around your neck. This will cool you very quickly and effectively (and also works well on fractious toddlers and children when they get too hot)
~Breathe. Most warm blooded mammals use their lungs to aid cooling and we are no different although I do not recommend panting. The area of a human adults lungs are like a natural sponge with hundreds of tunnels, chambers, nooks and crannies. If opened up and spread out the lung area would cover a tennis court. Throughout this entire area there little blood vessels which absorb oxygen into your system and they also release heat from the blood supply out into your lungs to help you cool down if you use your lungs properly.

(Exercises)
-To encourage more stretch into the muscles between your ribs (intercostals) in order to give your lungs more room to expand raise your arms as high as possible resting your hands behind your head or, if this is too difficult, prop your elbows up on pillows with the elbows as far from your sides as possible. This also allows better air circulation around the body and, for the same reason, move your knees apart and if this is difficult and your legs are stiff and tight together (as sometimes happens as tendons shorten) try to put a rolled up pillow between the knees.

-Breathe in through your nose if at all possible as the nostrils filter out dust, pollution and pollen and then blow out as much air as possible in a steady stream as if silently whistling. Reinflate through your nose and repeat this three times.

-Continue to breathe slowly and deeply and you will find yourself slowly cooling down.

Remember it is not just the weather that can cause these difficulties - vigorous exercise, a large meal, hot baths/showers and, perhaps worst of all, infections can all have the same results - you will feel better as you lower your temperature.

* Like any exercise program, please consult your healthcare professional before you begin. Please stop immediately if any of the exercises cause pain or harm to your body.