The one thing I cannot stress more, is the importance of exercise because it helps purify your lymph nodes, repairs demyelination, increases dopamine and releases endorphins. Especially, with people with multiple sclerosis...I cannot stress this more to you...exercise is vital to your immune system.
I personally exercise 5 days a week, at a gym because I need to leave my house an order for me to get this done. I lack motivation when I am home. However, if you feel you can exercise at home, then by all means, turn on the music and get your heart moving!
You must elevate your heart rate above 138 beats per minute in order to sweat, and to give your cardiovascular system a boost. When your heart beats, your blood pumps vigorously through your body and your lymphatic system, purifying your lymph nodes. Ever notice the smell of your sweat? The more you sweat, the more you stink, and that's something to be proud of! You are removing toxins and impurities from your body.
I personally have found that not only cardio, but strength training helps as well. I begin with 20 minutes of cardio activity on a machine, then I lift weights for 45 minutes, and finish with another 20 minutes of cardio. You don't have to take it to this extent, as I do. A one hour workout is enough, but I highly advise you to lift weights. Let me explain...
Don't be scared of bulking up...this is a myth for women. A female body has progesterone and estrogen, which prevents the big bulky muscle look, because a women's muscle can only increase in size. Females don't make more muscles like a man does. So hit the weights! Don't feel intimidated by the men at the gym...get right in there and work up a sweat...and get strong and healthy. Lift as much weight as you can...don't be scared of a little muscle and feeling strong. The best website I have found, which has videos, and a step by step instructions for lifting is bodybuilding.com. I highly recommend this website, it explains everything, including lifting with good form, to prevent injuries.
You also have to remember that with multiple sclerosis, your muscles don't want to work in certain sections of your body because of brain and spinal lesions. This helps to re-wire the pathways! Take a look at this article and see for yourself. You can help demylenation with exercise.
I will forewarn you though...when I first started exercising...it hurt! My stem cell transplant didn't fix everything. It wasn't until I was exercising, and eating right for two months did I see my symptoms disappear! I no longer felt numbness or tingling...or pain. When I first began exercising, the numbness and tingling increased when I became hot. So be careful, you don't want to exercise yourself to the point of an injury or falling down because you got too hot, and exacerbated your symptoms.
Begin slowly, and easily. About 15 minutes a day and you can slowly increase the time as you see fit.
I also like the gym because its air conditioned. So this is another consideration you need to remember before you begin. A cool place is best...and try not to overheat. Drink plenty of water and wear light, loose clothing to help prevent this.
Another, added benefit of exercise, is the dopamine that's released each time you do. Dopamine not only makes you happy, but helps repair the cognitive section of your brain! Doctors prescribe a drug, to increase the dopamine in your brain, for people with MS. See the link here for this article, which talks about this drug which produces dopamine to treat MS. I don't get why people don't just exercise instead of taking medicine, which has potential for side effects?
Then of course, there's the added benefits of endorphins, from exercise. Endorphins not only fight depression, but it also helps alleviate pain! Check out this article here.
I hope this information is helpful. Now can see the vital importance of exercise and all of its benefits, including fighting depression, pain, demylenation, and purification of your lymph nodes and immune system. No medication out there...can do this for you!
Remember, your lymph nodes are part of your immune system...and they need to purified. So good luck on becoming healthy, and defeating MS, one day at a time.
Here's a link to another post of mine, which describes another important aspect, to conquering MS.
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