Dangers of stress; just diagnosed with MS

Q: My boss got laid off, and now I work for a jerk. My son is struggling with asthma, my husband works long, erratic hours for less than he did five years ago, and our health insurance deductible just tripled. Sometimes I think my head will explode! I can't afford to slow down, but I don't want to lose it. Any suggestions? Sally P., Akron, Ohio

A: You actually can "lose it" if you're under chronic stress, and that's not a joke. That's why it's important to act promptly to relieve the pressure you feel. Your response to chronic stress can cause a cascade of bodily reactions that trigger brain inflammation, which can lead to mental health problems. Out-of-control stress responses also fuel heart disease and indirectly can increase your risk for some cancers.

That said, you have to take a step back and realize: You are not stuck! Even if you cannot change the particulars of your situation, you can change how you react to stressors and how they affect your physical and mental health.

So here's a simple three-step plan. Follow it until it becomes an everyday habit. You will get calmer, have more energy and feel more optimistic! And if you goof off one day don't sweat it; just make sure you pick it up the next.

One more thought: Set up an asthma treatment plan with your child's doctor, and share it with the school, any caretakers and your child. You'll reduce his risk of asthma attacks, and everyone will feel more relaxed.

Q: My husband was just diagnosed with relapsing-remitting MS (multiple sclerosis). He's 32 and was very healthy, and now he has this incurable disease. I feel like this is the beginning of the end. How do others cope? Sheri B., Carlsbad, California

A: Whoa there! MS is a tough diagnosis, no doubt about it, but today MS is not considered a fatal disease. In the past few years, doctors and researchers have made great strides in understanding and treating relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS). In the mid-1990s there were no (zero, zip, nada) treatments for RRMS. By the end of November 2014, there were 12. So after your husband and his doctor(s) decide on the best treatment options, you two can move forward.

Start by looking at all the information and support offered by the National MS Society (www.nmss.org). Seek out online and in-person support groups for both of you. Big issues are out there depending on how his condition develops: employment adjustments, modifications to your living environment, health-care expenses, driving, etc. You will need to discuss these important matters openly. Let him express his worries and suggest solutions.

Other ways to contribute to his (and your) long-term health include regular meditation, physical activity and healthy diet. Lots of folks with MS enjoy swimming (some do a mile a day), and others are skiing instructors or opera singers, who haul around 65 pounds of costume and belt out arias! And upgrade your diet by eliminating red and processed meats, added sugars and syrups, all trans and most sat fats and any grain that isn't 100 percent whole.

These steps will all help manage inflammation that contributes to nerve damage associated with MS. They also will help you manage your own stress response to your husband's diagnosis. The course of remitting-relapsing MS is very individual, but overall, people today are enjoying a much-improved quality of life.

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Dangers of stress; just diagnosed with MS