Cognitive deficits

Multiple sclerosis is an autoimmune disease where the myelin sheaths that protect nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord "eaten" away, nervous tissue. This leads to an error on my nerves, so that the physical symptoms of difficulty walking and weak hand to hold that many people feel.

What many do not know, may be multiple sclerosis also cause cognitive changes. These include short-term memory, a time of unclear thinking or "brain fog" and a decreased ability to solve problems and make decisions. A person's ability to organize their time and remember important tasks can be affected by these changes. In addition, for half the day fatigue often associated with multiple sclerosis is the severity of the symptoms of multiple sclerosis, including cognitive symptoms zoom. Stress can also increase these symptoms. In short, a really bad day, all these symptoms, including cognitive changes, the possibility of a person with almost no function!

The above may appear daunting, but if you experience cognitive symptoms of multiple sclerosis, there are steps you can take to adjust your environment so you do not compromise your daily routine.

First written calendar. This can, in whatever form you prefer - a calendar hanging on the wall, a book that you plan to visit, or an electronic organizer with reminder alarms. Regardless of the type, make sure you write your appointments and important dates as soon as you make them.

When you write a manuscript of the organizers, check it often to remember important dates. If you have an electronic organizer, set the alarm in a reasonable time before each meeting that you recall that before the door. Do you have a family member or friend help with this if it is overwhelming.

Next, write to-do lists every day on what you want to do. When you write a list, prioritize by selecting the most important task with a number, the second most important with a number two, and so on. When you start the data on the list, beginning with the data in numerical order, crossing out how to complement them. If you have no energy from the time you get number 5, it's okay - it was down to be on the priority list, and ends in the morning instead. Move all the data is not exceeded, that tomorrow's to-do list. If the information to do it, move it higher up the priority list for the next day. If you have the ability to prioritize tasks without numbering, this is good, but the numbers can help you towards ever made important points before your energy. Although this task is overwhelming, a family member or friend who can help you.

Finally, give yourself visual reminders of your home. Use self-adhesive labels for switches and doors to give, remember to shut out the lights and lock the doors. If you have two cylinders that are similar, but the rubbing alcohol and vinegar is, they denote different colored bands with bold, black press chose to get distinction. If you choose not to remember how the remote to the TV using small drops of acrylic paint on the most important keys. Here, too, if you are overwhelmed by the thought of adapting your home to help a family member or friend.

If you feel that you have so many adjustments that you can not do it, or if you simply do not know where to start, occupational therapist, you can help. Occupational therapist specializing in the adaptation of environments for both physical and cognitive losses that can occur with multiple sclerosis offset. Check with your insurance company a plan for occupational therapy in your area. If your home health care services, an occupational therapist may be available to work directly with you in your home. For further information about occupational therapy, visit the American Occupational Therapy Association in http://www.aota.org/Consumers.aspx.

An excellent book, which is the cognitive changes, described could be caused by multiple sclerosis, entitled "Facing the Cognitive Challenges of Multiple Sclerosis by Jeffrey N. Gingold. The book guides the reader through the author's personal struggle with multiple sclerosis and cognitive changes that he stands when he fought against the disease. Fun writing style makes for an entertaining and powerful book that has read all that will do something with multiple sclerosis. Visit Amazon.com to give you a copy.