An article on Stress and MS

[Guest guest]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/3118758.stm

Stress link to multiple sclerosis

Stressful life events seem to make the symptoms of multiple sclerosis worse, a British Medical Journal study suggests. Dutch researchers followed 73 patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis. They found during periods of stress patients were twice as likely to develop new symptoms, or a more severe form of their existing symptoms. The reason for the apparent link is unclear, although it is possible that stress triggers the release of hormones that affect the immune system. The finding suggests that giving people with MS coaching on how to deal with stress may help to delay the development of symptoms. Researcher Dr Rogier Hintzen, a neurologist at the Erasmus Medical Centre in Rotterdam, said: "The knowledge that stressful events are associated with disease activity adds important information to the limited insight that patients and their caregivers have on this unpredictable disease." Auto-immune disease MS is caused by a malfunctioning of the immune system, which attacks the coating of the nerves. Symptoms include tingling, fatigue, loss of balance and slurred speech. The majority of patients experience periods when their symptoms become worse, followed by periods of stability. However, there has been much debate about just what role, if any, psychological stress plays in determining the progression of the disease. , chief executive of the MS Trust, said: "People with MS often say that their symptoms worsen after stressful life events, so we welcome this new research. "If we can understand any connection between stress and MS, it may shed light on the disease mechanism, which is still poorly understood." Her view was echoed by Mike O'Donovan, chief executive of the MS Society, who said: "We often hear anecdotal evidence that bereavement and family problems, for instance, are linked to relapses." However, he stressed that more research was needed before firm conclusions could be drawn.

[Guest guest]

This has been controversial for a long time.

I think what I have experienced is the overshoot of the

immune system when stress is severe, prolonged, and is suddenly

released.

Like after a job change when I often get a cold in response

to the thing being acceptable in spite of my fears.

-Sullivan

> http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/3118758.stm

>

> Stress link to multiple sclerosis

>

>

>

> Stressful life events seem to make the symptoms of multiple

sclerosis worse, a British Medical Journal study suggests.

> Dutch researchers followed 73 patients with relapsing-

remitting multiple sclerosis.

>

> They found during periods of stress patients were twice as

likely to develop new symptoms, or a more severe form of their

existing symptoms.

>

> The reason for the apparent link is unclear, although it is

possible that stress triggers the release of hormones that affect the

immune system.

>

> The finding suggests that giving people with MS coaching on

how to deal with stress may help to delay the development of

symptoms.

>

> Researcher Dr Rogier Hintzen, a neurologist at the Erasmus

Medical Centre in Rotterdam, said: " The knowledge that stressful

events are associated with disease activity adds important

information to the limited insight that patients and their caregivers

have on this unpredictable disease. "

>

> Auto-immune disease

>

> MS is caused by a malfunctioning of the immune system, which

attacks the coating of the nerves.

>

> Symptoms include tingling, fatigue, loss of balance and

slurred speech.

>

> The majority of patients experience periods when their

symptoms become worse, followed by periods of stability.

>

> However, there has been much debate about just what role, if

any, psychological stress plays in determining the progression of the

disease.

>

> , chief executive of the MS Trust,

said: " People with MS often say that their symptoms worsen after

stressful life events, so we welcome this new research.

>

> " If we can understand any connection between stress and MS,

it may shed light on the disease mechanism, which is still poorly

understood. "

>

> Her view was echoed by Mike O'Donovan, chief executive of the

MS Society, who said: " We often hear anecdotal evidence that

bereavement and family problems, for instance, are linked to

relapses. "

>

> However, he stressed that more research was needed before

firm conclusions could be drawn.

[Guest guest]

I thought stress acting adversely upon MS was a forgone conclusion.

Noland

----- Original Message -----

From: Donita Mason

Lowdosenaltrexone

Sent: Wednesday, September 24, 2003 7:51 PM

Subject: [low dose naltrexone] An article on Stress and MS

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/3118758.stm

Stress link to multiple sclerosis

Stressful life events seem to make the symptoms of multiple sclerosis worse, a British Medical Journal study suggests.

[Guest guest]

It's one of those anecdotal things. Everyone knows that it effect their MS, but it had never been studied. Now they have a study proving it.

Doni

I thought stress acting adversely upon MS was a forgone conclusion.

Noland