I live on the east coast of the US and it has been a real scorcher this summer. Heat is an issue for many people with MS (especially combined with humidity). At the risk of stating the obvious, please give yourself permission to follow these basics. Take extra good care of yourself if you are afflicted by hot weather, and take seriously the stress that heat puts on your body.
Do any activities that require exertion early or late in the day, particularly if it is outdoor work.
Once you do get overheated, it usually takes people with MS longer to cool down than other folks. So retreat to cool spaces frequently and drink lots of cool water to avoid overheating to begin with. (Especially true for work out sessions.)
If you are short of time, running cold water over your wrists and wiping down your neck, chest and forehead with a cold wet cloth or paper towel is a quick way to bring down your temperature.
If you do not have air conditioning or do not like how it feels, make sure you use fans.
Sit for a bit in a shallow cold bath, (soak at least your feet), or take a quick very cold shower if you have access and time.
Swimming is excellent exercise and if you stay out of the sun before and after swimming, a pleasurable way to beat the heat.
Take naps as needed- this is no time to be stingy with resting. Our culture is not given to siestas but there is a reason that many other countries maintain this habit of sleeping midday and staying up later in the cool of the evening.
Cook your food on the weekends early in the day and plan as many salad based meals for the week as possible using cold meats, fish, allowable grains, (also as pasta), potato, hearty cooked or raw vegetables and greens, and if you can eat fruit, fruit smoothies with some nuts are all good hot weather meals. I will add some recipe ideas in my next blog.
If you have more suggestions for staying cool, please send them in so others can benefit from your wisdom. For instance, some people wear chill suits for a time during the day- a vest and cap that have ice water pumped through small tubes that they swear by. Other suggestions? Please let us know. Hot weather food ideas are also welcome.
Thanks