There are over 100 autoimmune conditions, like rheumatoid arthritis and multiple sclerosis, but experts still aren’t sure what causes them. Autoimmune conditions occur when your immune system mistakenly attacks the body instead of protecting it. Certain factors increase your risk of getting an autoimmune condition, such as smoking or having a family member with an […]
What is the Impact of Obesity on Autoimmune Conditions? Read More »
Rheumatoid arthritis is one of the most common forms of arthritis, affecting 1.3 million adults in the United States. It’s an autoimmune disease, meaning the immune system mistakenly attacks healthy cells in the body instead of protecting them. A healthy immune system protects against germs and sends fighter cells to attack them. But with autoimmune diseases, the immune system treats normal cells like foreign cells and releases autoantibodies that attack healthy cells. Autoantibodies are
5 Causes of Rheumatoid Arthritis Read More »
When you have a chronic illness, traditional holiday meals can affect how you feel. If you have kidney disease, you may need to watch your protein and salt intake. For other conditions like heart disease or diabetes, you may need to limit refined sugars. Still, other conditions like multiple sclerosis and Parkinson’s disease may require
Holiday Recipes for People with Chronic Illness Read More »
Living with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is more than joint pain. It’s a chronic pain, accompanied by many other symptoms, that often gets worse over time. Symptoms can come at inconvenient times without any warning which makes them difficult to manage. But what people think RA feels like and what it actually feels like are often two different things. How does rheumatoid arthritis really feel? Rheumatoid arthritis isn’t “just” arthritis. When you have RA, it affects your body or one part of
What Does Rheumatoid Arthritis Really Feel Like? Read More »
Stress is a normal part of life for many people. For some, holidays can be especially stressful because of gift buying, traveling, and making holiday dinners. If you have multiple sclerosis, the stress of the holidays can be compounded by managing your illness on top of everything else. Living with MS is not only a
MS and Stress: Managing the Holidays Read More »
Multiple sclerosis can be one of the most difficult conditions to diagnose because of the variety of symptoms it causes and the ways they present. Most people with MS experience their first symptoms between the ages of 20 and 40. Sometimes, symptoms can come on suddenly and go away just as quickly. Other times, symptoms will start minimally and progressively get worse. Because MS effects everyone differently,
Unexpected Warning Signs of MS Read More »
Managing multiple sclerosis can be difficult, especially when it comes to choosing between different treatment options. You want a treatment plan that is going to help minimize your symptoms while being mindful of any side effects. All the while making sure that your mental health is being protected. Many patients with MS use an integrative or complementary approach to
Integrative Treatment for MS Read More »
The Center of Disease Control reports that six in ten adults in the United States have a chronic illness, like multiple sclerosis, ALS, diabetes, kidney disease, and major depressive disorder. Because chronic illness is so common, it’s likely you have a friend, parent, co-worker, or maybe even you, have one. Chronic illnesses can be tricky
10 Things Not to Say to Someone with Chronic Illness Read More »
Meet Dave (@SlowDave) Dave, a retired attorney, and avid mountain biker was riding in the car with his wife when he felt very dizzy, asked her to pull over, and collapsed on the side of the road in 2005. This incident sparked many subsequent trips to the emergency room and meetings with neurologists and other
Meet Trisha (@DXMS06) Before Trisha Bordelon, a 69-year-old PatientsLikeMe (PLM) user from Springfield, Missouri, officially received any diagnosis, she was guilty of what many of us in her shoes would do – spend hours going down a rabbit hole of internet searches to try and figure out what was going on with her health. She
Lessons Learned on a Seventeen Year Journey to Diagnosis Read More »
