Hot summer days are a challenge for many people with MS. Even healthy people suffer from the warm temperatures, feeling sluggish and impaired. People with MS often suffer even more clearly from this performance reduction. In addition, the so-called Uhthoff’s phenomenon can lead to physical symptoms being perceived more strongly. For example, a spastic gait disorder, which is at most slightly pronounced at normal temperatures, can significantly impair walking ability in extreme heat. For this reason, strategies that mitigate Uhthoff’s phenomenon are more than welcome.
Naturally, those who can stay and work in an air-conditioned environment during these hot outdoor temperatures are fortunate. If this is not the case, one should contact the company doctor (especially in larger companies) to bring about solutions. Because even though Uhthoff’s phenomenon is not dangerous per se, working in a too warm environment can become a real ordeal for a person with MS due to rapid exhaustion and physical symptoms. This can’t be in the employer’s interest. Therefore, involving the company doctor is absolutely justified.
The simplest strategy that one can apply oneself is the continuous supply of cold drinks. These should not be “gulped down” in one go, but rather taken in small sips (e.g., through a straw) again and again. Insulated drinking vessels do a good job here. Ice cubes can ensure that the liquid stays cool for longer. However, the provision of cool drinks requires a certain logistics at the workplace.
Technical means of cooling can include fans and air conditioning units, but cooling vests have also reached a fairly good technical standard and can be purchased at realistic prices. With cooling vests, there are different principles – either cooling packs are inserted into designated pockets (rather impractical), or special textiles are activated with the help of water – the cooling then takes place via evaporative cooling. This is also, in my view, the principle that has prevailed and offers a reasonable price-performance ratio. Arm or headbands based on this principle are also not bad.
In the domestic environment, you can also help yourself with cheaper means – for example, you can put synthetic functional shirts (no cotton) in the freezer and then put them on before physical activity, for example. Preferring light and bright clothing, as well as shady places outdoors, is self-evident.
Despite all these tips, however, such extreme weather conditions as currently are a real burden for many people with MS who suffer from heat sensitivity – but no summer lasts forever
