Multiple sclerosis (MS) triggers include anything that worsens your symptoms or causes a relapse. In many cases, you can avoid MS triggers by simply knowing what they are and making efforts to sidestep them. If you can’t avoid certain triggers, you may find other approaches helpful, including a healthy lifestyle, regular exercise, and a good diet.
Just as no two people will have the same experience with MS, no two people will likely have the same MS triggers. You may have some triggers in common with others who have MS, as well as some that are unique to you.
Over time, you and your doctor may be able to identify triggers that make your symptoms worse. Keeping a journal of your symptoms, when they occur, and what you were doing beforehand can help you identify potential triggers.
Here are some of the most common triggers you may experience with MS and tips to avoid them.
1. Stress
Having a chronic disease like MS can establish a new source of stress. But stress can stem from other sources too, including work, personal relationships, or financial worries. Too much stress may worsen your MS symptoms.
How to avoid: Find a relaxing, stress-reducing activity that you enjoy. Yoga, meditation, and breathing exercises are all practices that may help reduce stress and eliminate the risk of making symptoms worse.
2. Heat
The heat from the sun, as well as artificially heated saunas and hot tubs, may be too intense for people with MS. They can often lead to a period of exacerbated symptoms.
How to avoid: Skip any high-heat environments like saunas, hot yoga studios, and hot tubs entirely. Keep your home cool and run extra fans if necessary. On hot days, avoid direct sunlight, wear loose, light-colored clothes, and stay in the shade as much as possible.
3. Childbirth
Pregnant women with MS may experience a relapse after delivering their baby. In fact, 20 to 40 percent of women may have a flare-up in the period just after giving birth.
How to avoid: You may not be able to prevent a flare after childbirth, but you can take steps to reduce its severity and impact. In the immediate days after giving birth, let friends and family members help you with your new baby so that you can get rest and care for yourself. This will help your body recover more efficiently.
Breastfeeding may have a potential protective effect against postpartum flare-ups, according to limited researchTrusted Source, but the evidence isn’t clear. If you’re taking disease-modifying medication, though, you may not be able to breastfeed. Talk with your OB-GYN and neurologist about your post-birth options.
4. Getting sick
Infections can cause MS flare-ups, and MS is also more likelyTrusted Source to cause certain types of infection. For example, people with reduced bladder function are more likely to develop urinary tract infections. The infection may exacerbate other MS symptoms. Infections like the flu or even a common cold can also make MS symptoms worse.
How to avoid: A healthy lifestyle is an important part of treatment for MS. Plus, it helps prevent other diseases and infections. Wash your hands during cold and flu season. Avoid people who are ill when you’re experiencing a flare. See your doctor if you think you’re getting sick.
5. Certain vaccines
Vaccines are generally safe — and recommended — for people with MS. Certain vaccines that contain live pathogens, however, have the potential to exacerbate symptoms. If you’re experiencing a relapse or taking certain medications, your doctor may also recommend that you postpone vaccination.
How to avoid: Talk with your neurologist about any vaccine you’re considering. Some vaccines, like the flu vaccine, may help you prevent a future flare-up. Your doctor can help you determine which are safest for you.
6. Vitamin D deficiency
One studyTrusted Source found that people with lower vitamin D levels have a higher risk of flare-ups compared to people with adequate vitamin D levels. There is already increasing evidence that vitamin D can protect against developing MS. Still, more research on how this vitamin affects the disease course is needed.
How to avoid: To help prevent this, your doctor may monitor your vitamin D levels regularly. Supplements, food, and safe sun exposure may help. Be sure to talk with your doctor about your safest supplement options before trying any.
7. Lack of sleep
Sleep is vital for your health. Your body uses sleep as an opportunity to repair your brain and heal other areas of damage. If you aren’t getting enough sleep, your body doesn’t have this down time. Excess fatigue can trigger symptoms or make them worse.
MS can also make sleep more difficult and less restful. Muscle spasms, pain, and tingling may make it difficult to fall asleep. Some common MS medications may also interrupt your sleep cycle, preventing you from getting shut-eye when you feel tired.
How to avoid: Talk with your doctor about any sleep problems you may have. Sleep is vital to your overall health, so this is an important area of treatment and observation for your doctor. They can rule out any other conditions and give you tips to manage fatigue.
8. Poor diet
A healthy diet, as well as regular exercise, can go a long way to helping you avoid a flare-up and ease MS symptoms. A diet high in processed foods is unlikely to provide your body with the high-quality nutrition it needs.
How to avoid: Work with a dietitian to develop a healthy eating plan you can stick to. Focus on good sources of protein, healthy fats, and carbohydrates. While researchTrusted Source isn’t yet clear on the best diet for people with MS, studies do suggest eating healthy foods can have a positive effect.
9. Smoking
Cigarettes and other tobacco products can increase your symptoms and can make progression happen more quickly. Likewise, smoking is a risk factor for a number of medical conditions that can worsen your overall health, including lung disease and heart disease.
One studyTrusted Source found that tobacco smoking is associated with more severe MS. It also may speed up disability and disease progression.
How to avoid: Quitting smoking, even after your diagnosis, can improve your outcome with MS. Talk with your doctor about effective smoking cessation options.
10. Certain medications
Certain medications have the potential to worsen your MS symptoms. Your neurologist will work closely with all of your doctors to make sure you don’t take medications that may trigger a flare-up.
At the same time, your neurologist may closely watch the number of medications you’re taking as a whole. Medications can interact with one another, which can cause side effects. These side effects could trigger an MS relapse or make symptoms worse.
How to avoid: Report all medications you take to your doctor, including supplements and over-the-counter drugs. They can help you narrow down your list to the necessities so you can prevent problems.
