Lifestyle Modifications for Patients with Multiple Sclerosis

%jwplayer%

The MD Magazine Peer Exchange "Modifying the Course of Multiple Sclerosis in New Ways: The Latest Advances in Treatment" features a distinguished panel of physician experts discussing key topics in multiple sclerosis (MS) research and management, including the latest insights into MS pathophysiology, new medication options and their application in clinical practice, and more.

This Peer Exchange is moderated by Paul Doghramji, MD, who is a family physician at Pottstown Memorial Medical Center in Pottstown, PA, and medical director of Health Services at Ursinus College, in Collegeville, PA.

The panelists are:

• Fred D. Lublin, MD, FAAN, FANA, the Saunders Family Professor of Neurology and director of The Corinne Goldsmith Dickinson Center for Multiple Sclerosis, and co-chief editor of Multiple Sclerosis and Related Disorders at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
• Patricia K. Coyle, MD, professor of neurology, vice chair of Clinical Affairs, and director of MS Comprehensive Care Center
• Suhayl Dhib-Jalbut, MD, professor and chief of the Department of Neurology at Rutgers, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School

Many lifestyle modifications can be beneficial to patients with MS. Coyle indicated that socialization and mental exercise can help cognitive function. She also mentioned there are benefits to modifications such as limiting salt and saturated fat intake, practicing good sleep hygiene, and maintaining an optimum body weight.

Because some of the newer MS medications are associated with a risk of developing certain cancers, such as gynecological cancers or lymphomas, in the context of immune suppression, Dhib-Jalbut said that he does inform patients of those risks.