Do you feel exhausted when it's hot outside? This could be an early sign of the debilitating neurological disease multiple sclerosis (MS), an NHS doctor has warned.
According to Dr. Asif Ahmed, if you experience fatigue that worsens significantly in hot weather, this could be an indication of this progressive disease.
In a video posted on TikTok, which has so far received over 70,000 views, Dr. Ahmed said: “If you feel pain, are constantly tired or have vision problems, and you tell me this [that are worsened by heat], I immediately think of multiple sclerosis.”
"People often tell me that dizziness, headaches or aches get worse when they exercise, go to a sauna or take a hot shower," he added.
The worsening of neurological condition when body temperature rises is called Uhtoff's Phenomenon, he explained.
This phenomenon is experienced by 60 to 80 percent of people with MS, so while it doesn't necessarily mean you have the disease, it is a "strong indicator"", the doctor warned - GazetaExpress reports.
He urged those who experience worsening symptoms in the heat to speak to a doctor, who can decide whether further tests are necessary.
MS is a life-changing, incurable condition that affects the brain and spinal cord and causes debilitating muscle spasms, among other symptoms.
Although MS is not directly fatal, in advanced stages it can cause weakening of the chest muscles, leading to difficulty breathing and swallowing — with potentially fatal complications.
@dra_says This phenomenon is seen in 60-80% of patients with MS. Educational purposes only #multiplesclerosis #multiplesclerosisawareness #multiplesclerosiswarrior #pain #dizziness #weakness #pinsandneedles #doctor #privatedoctor #privategp ♬ original sound – Dr Ahmed
People in the advanced stage of the disease are also very susceptible to deadly infections.
Some studies show that patients with MS are up to 75 percent more likely to die early than those without the disease.
Most people discover they have MS in their thirties or forties, but the first signs can begin years earlier.
The main symptoms include:
fatigue,
numbness and tingling,
loss of balance and dizziness,
muscle stiffness or spasms.
Other symptoms include problems with memory and thinking, changes in vision, bowel and bladder problems, pain, and tremors.
The doctor's warning comes at a time when a worrying rise in cases has been seen, with around 150,000 people living with MS in the UK, compared with around 130,000 in 2019, according to data from the MS Society.
While the cause of this increase is not entirely clear, possible factors include infections, vitamin D deficiency, smoking, exposure to solvents, obesity, and stress.
It is very important to recognize early symptoms, because although there is no cure for MS, treatments can slow the progression of the disease.
The type of treatment depends on the type of MS the patient has:
Relapsing-remitting,
Secondary progressive,
Progressive primary.
Relapsing-remitting MS involves periods of worsening symptoms (relapses) and improvement (remission).
Over time, this often turns into secondary progressive MS, where symptoms are always present and slowly worsen.
In the rarer case of primary progressive MS, symptoms steadily worsen without periods of improvement.
Treatments include various medications such as:
corticosteroids,
disease-modifying therapy,
muscle relaxants,
medications for pain and other symptoms.
Other forms of support include fatigue counseling, physiotherapy, mobility equipment, psychological therapy, and cognitive rehabilitation.
This warning comes a few months after famous Hollywood actress Selma Blair, diagnosed with MS in 2018, shared the news that she is in remission after a promising new treatment.
The Legally Blonde actress underwent a treatment called hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT).
This procedure involves taking and reintroducing stem cells — undifferentiated cells that can develop into different specialized cell types — into a person's body.
The results can be so profound that, as experts say, "patients can go from wheelchairs to walking."
Doctors are using these types of procedures to repair brain damage accumulated over years, and even to restore the ability to walk to paralyzed patients, through tissue regeneration.
Dr. Alexander Scheer, an expert in regenerative medicine who has treated MS patients through stem cells, said:
"It's so beautiful to see."
Seeing a patient go from a wheelchair to walking is why I became a doctor.”
He successfully treated Richard Benedetto, 56, who had MS, by transplanting stem cells into his brain.
Mr. Benedetto the young man regained the ability to walk after several such operations. /Express newspaper/
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