Stay Healthy During Season Changes
Every
autumn my immune system goes into hyperdrive as if it is trying to fight off
some fierce monster virus. After two
decades of multiple
sclerosis – or what I like to call it: what will it do to me today? – I've
come to expect the flu symptoms, severe fatigue, and achy muscles my immune
response to the change of weather brings.
It is an all-out assault against my body and mind.
Why is Season Change an Immune-System Trigger?
With
temperatures dropping from warm to cold, the change of season affects everyone
at some level. After all, this change
adds stress to the body, thus triggering an immune system response. Fold in the increased chances of contracting
a cold or virus and this is a challenging time for all of us—autoimmune disease
or no. Through the years, though, I have
found ways to combat this assault.
Plus,
the pandemic
taught us many general health lessons. I’ve
found wearing a mask to be one of my best weapons against most all-season-related illnesses. For me, I’ll be the
odd one wearing a mask in public long after this particular virus has been
quelled. No seasonal cold for me! Whoop!
Wash Those Germs Away
If
there’s one thing this worldwide pandemic has taught us, it’s to wash our
hands. And since I have an autoimmune
disease, I must be even more diligent about keeping my hands clean when in
public places. I always carry
antibacterial gel and wash my hands multiple times each day. Nevertheless, this only keeps some of the
bugs away. For those of us with
imperfect immune systems, we need to do more.
Eat To Be Healthy
Luckily
for me, I love to garden. Even on my
worst days, I can – at the very least – plant some seeds or harvest a few
veggies. A major plus is that autumn is
also harvest time, which means that I always have a plentiful supply of immune-boosting foods.
From
my organic garden, I harvest and consume greens, tomatoes, squash, eggplant, blueberries,
and carrots. I supplement my diet with
store-bought low-fat meat,
apples, pineapple (high in vitamin C), and milk.
My
doctor also advised that I fortify my immune system with multivitamins, calcium,
and additional doses of vitamin D. When
I feel a cold approaching, I supplement this with additional doses of vitamin C
and zinc.
Stay Well with Exercise
It's
widely known that exercise strengthens the immune system and reduces
stress. However, for those of us with
MS, exercise may be a bit difficult some days.
This is especially true when our immune system is already overworked
from the stresses of season change. My
legs stiffen and I become very fatigued.
All I want to do is sleep. Even
so, I do as much as my body allows.
When
feeling well enough, my exercise routine includes yoga and low impact cardio,
including short treks on my three-wheel cycle. Due to intermittent vertigo, I've also
included core-strengthening exercises to improve my balance.
Note
My
favorite cardio is Zumba. YouTube has a plethora
of Zumba and dance routines. You can
also find a variety of all types of exercise and wellness vids.
Rest Up!
At
times with MS, it's difficult to discern if I'm coming down with a cold or if
it is just an immune response. Nevertheless,
I know from experience that I need at least eight hours of sleep each night to
have a fighting chance of feeling well.
Evidently, I'm not the only one who benefits from a good night's sleep.
According
to the National
Institutes of Health, "Sleep plays a vital role in good health and
well-being throughout your life. Getting enough quality sleep ... can help
protect your mental health, physical health, quality of life, and safety."
By
taking care of ourselves, all of us can enjoy the change of seasons.
More by Rebecca
Health:
First Person Account of Drug Therapy for MS
Exercises
Every Woman Over 50 Should Include in Her Daily Routine
Can
Diet and Exercise Help Those Suffering from Multiple Sclerosis?
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