The Empowering Role of Hope

An awareness of the clinical pathways to Healthy Living, combined with a motivation (hope) to engage such pathways, can be very important when living with chronic illness. The following snapshots discuss these pathways in a Multiple Sclerosis environment. About Hope and Multiple Sclerosis.

.http://www.msnetwork.org/ccsviqol.htm#video

The Body's Superhighway

 The vascular system is a key player in the body's superhighway for the delivery of nutrients and the removal of toxins from all parts of our body. Of critical significance is the interior lining of arteries, veins and blood vessels known as the Endothelium. The main job of endothelial cells is to provide a barrier between the blood and the rest of the body tissues. While blood must be contained inside the transporting vessels substances need to move in and out of it in a controlled manner. The endothelium provides this selectively permeable layer across which chemicals and white blood cells move according to where and when they are needed. This infrastructure transverses the 50,000 miles of arteries and 50,000 miles of veins that course through our bodies. About your Endothelium and Multiple Sclerosis

http://www.msnetwork.org/bookmarks/endothelial.htm

 The key to living a long and healthy life

 Once thought to be just a "wallpaper" between blood and the wall of our arteries, the endothelium, especially through its role in the production of Nitric Oxide (NO), is now understood to be the key to living a long and healthy life. It impacts on overall health by: preventing inappropriate blood clotting; relaxing arteries; promoting normal blood pressure; preventing inflammation and plaques; smoothing blood flow to deliver nutrients for cell metabolism and facilitating glucose uptake and healthy blood sugars. NO acts as a signal molecule in the nervous system, as a weapon against infections, as a regulator of blood pressure and as a gatekeeper of blood flow to different organs. About Nitric Oxide and Multiple Sclerosis

http://www.msnetwork.org/sunshine-benefits.htm

Maintaining a healthy Endothelium

 One of the surest signs of health is generous NO production - the converse is true of many common diseases. While we take it for granted that maintaining a healthy lifestyle through factors like good nutrition and exercise are very important we are only now beginning to properly understand the overall importance of the endothelium in this process. Sunshine associated ultra violet UV exposure enhances NO production as do certain foods with rich concentrations of Arginine including: spinach, both green and red, kale, bok choy, rhubarb, beets, watermelon, including the rind, nuts, particularly pine nuts, greens, particularly arugula, whole grains like oats and wheat germ, garlic and onions. Of equal significance is the fundamental role of sleep in the effective operation of the brain's "waste removal system". More on this topic

.http://www.msnetwork.org/facts/endo-health.htm

 In recent timed It has been possible to directly measure the health of the endothelium via a blood test  based upon Asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) which is an independent risk factor for coronary heart disease. The higher the ADMA level, the lower the endothelial controlled nitric oxide (NO) production and the more endothelial dysfunction (ED) is present. Elevation in ADMA and subsequent NO synthesis inhibition leads to vasoconstriction, reduced peripheral blood flow, and reduced cardiac output. When we heal our endothelial dysfunction, the ADMA level drops as NO production is boosted. A device called EndoPAT is also used to measure ED and monitor interventions to document recovery.  The jury is out regarding the extent to which either of these tests may have multiple sclerosis relevance. There is however significant evidence that NO associated sunshine/UV exposure delays MS diagnosis and progression in colder climates. About the Sunshine factor and Multiple Sclerosis-

http://www.msnetwork.org/facts/endo-health.htm

 Superhighway Road Blocks and Multiple Sclerosis

 There is ever expanding evidence that breakdowns in endothelial health associated with vein disorders (giving rise to disturbed bloodflow) contribute to many of the disabilities experienced by those diagnosed with MS and to it's ongoing escalation and progression. Of the many thousands tested to date more than 70% of those with MS have this potentially treatable disorder the initial impact of which can be mild, moderate or severe. Because of its progressive nature early identification and potential intervention is considered to be vital. The initial diagnosis of such vein related blood flow irregularities, a condition referred to as "Chronic Cerebrospinal Venous Insufficiency" (CCSVI) is via Doppler Ultrasound with Angioplasty follow up. Discuss with your GP and Vascular Specialist. About vascular breakdowns and Multiple Sclerosis-

http://www.msnetwork.org/bloodflow/blood-clotting-protein-overview.htm

 Adopting Healthy Lifestyle Regimes

 For all of the foregoing reasons (and more) it makes good sense to adopt (in consultation with your advisors) lifestyle choices recognised as enhancing vascular health when living with MS.  When commenting on which of the range of recommended choices (Best Bet, Swank, Wahls, Jelinek, etc.) may be better (and why) global MS advocate Joan Beal recently observed "In all honesty - I think what is MOST important is to focus on what these programs SHARE". Joan went on to highlights the needs to:

 1. Eat healthy, whole foods, with a focus on plenty of colourful organic fruits and vegetables
 2. Remove processed foods and transfats. Increase omega three fats.
 3. Remove dairy
 4. Cut down (or eliminate) sugar, gluten, baked treats, white foods.
 5. Focus on whole grains (oats, quinoa, brown rice)
 6. Stop smoking
 7. Increase Vitamin D with UV ray exposure and supplementation, as well as minerals (magnesium) and micronutrients.
 8. Practice regular cardiovascular exercise
 9. Meditate or some form of stress relief
10. Achieve good quality and regular sleep
11. Maintain a healthy weight
12..Address microbiome health with probiotics, fermented foods, and lots of fruits and veg for prebiotic.

 More about Healthy Lifestyle Choices and Multiple Sclerosis

http://www.msnetwork.org/ccsvihistory.htm#backwards

Ongoing Learning

 While much of the foregoing is not necessarily new the drawing together of associated  research is ongoing. What is being learnt is not a cure for MS - but in many, many cases, it underpins Healthier Living with Multiple Sclerosis. There is a growing body of research on the foregoing topics at

-http://www.msnetwork.org/bookmarks/NewsLINK.htm

Peter Sullivan and Kerri Cassidy, on behalf of
Multiple Sclerosis Network of Care, Australia
Kindly pass on to friends and colleagues as appropriate