For women living with MS, self-care isn’t just a buzzword
There’s a good chance Jessica Faulds started her day today by throwing a few swings at a punching bag.
She most likely refueled after her visit to her local boxing studio with her favourite breakfast of garlic avocado toast topped with an egg cooked over easy. And after clocking a full day at work, Faulds, 26, may go for a run as she trains for her next halfmarathon. Taking her dog, Nutella, for a walk will be in the cards, too.
It’s a lot to pack into a day but Faulds, who was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) at 15, is unyielding in her dedication to her “very strict schedule” of taking care of herself. Sometimes that includes osteopathy and physiotherapy appointments.
The moment the Calgary resident lets her healthy habits slide, she falters physically and the symptoms of her disease — which can range from numbness and fatigue to chronic pain — worsen.
“I physically feel a difference. I can feel numbness in my hands,” Faulds said. “It took me a long time to get to this point, though.” Three times as many women as men are diagnosed with MS, a chronic, often-disabling disease of the central nervous system. Relapsing-remitting MS, the type that Faulds was diagnosed with, is characterized by unpredictable but clearly defined flare-ups or attacks in which new symptoms appear or existing ones worsen.
Canada also has one of the highest rates of MS in the world, with 11 Canadians diagnosed each day with the disease. As for its prevalence in women, scientists believe that hormones may play a role in susceptibility to MS.
Diagnosis typically happens between the ages of 15 and 40. While Faulds sought medical attention the moment she noticed something was wrong as a teen, many women tend to ignore the signs that something isn’t right with their health.
Experts say it’s because they’re often busy as caregivers and household managers, so they may be more likely to dismiss the fatigue, depression and dizziness that can signal MS for something else.
Recognizing the link between MS and women, a new partnership was recently announced between the MS Society of Canada and Shoppers Drug Mart. Their commitment to women’s health, called SHOPPERS LOVE. YOU., works to compel Canadian women to make selfcare a priority.
“Generally, women take care of others prior to, or even to, the detriment of their own health. That’s why women’s health is the focus of SHOPPERS LOVE. YOU. We want to showcase women’s health as something worthy of her attention,” says Lisa Gibbs, director of community investment, Shoppers Drug Mart.
The partnership will include a shared micro-site on both the Shoppers Drug Mart and MS Society of Canada websites, videos, blog posts by women diagnosed with MS sharing their stories of wellness, and other information about MS and its effects on women’s health, all of which emphasize the importance of self-care.
“The purpose of this partnership is for women with MS to recognize themselves here and to connect with a larger community,” Gibbs says. “And for more women with MS to live their best lives.”
Faulds, who studied applied health sciences and nutrition in university, has her self-care routine down to a fine art. She also inspires other people with MS through her Instagram feed and Facebook forums to devote more attention to their health.
Sometimes all it takes is a small change, notes Dr. Charity Evans, a University of Saskatchewan researcher.
Dr. Evans recently studied the benefits to MS patients of participating in 50 minutes of pilates twice a week.
She found participants’ walking performance and functional ability improved after 12 weeks, making a simple exercise schedule a viable self-care option to manage the disease.
Better still, Dr. Evans notes, pilates can be tailored to individual needs and abilities.
“It makes sense when you think about mobility issues in MS — if you really focus on strengthening the core, you’d increase balance and movement,” Dr. Evans says. “There’s tons of evidence suggesting it’s helping with MS symptoms — even fatigue. I think it’s exercise in general, but this is an option for exercise people may not have thought about that can be individualized.”
That’s ultimately what selfcare is about, Faulds says. It’s finding something that works for the individual and running with it.
“I tell people you have to be an advocate for your health,” Faulds says. “If you want to box, box. If you run, run. Find something and really look at your options.”
IT MAKES SENSE WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT MOBILITY ISSUES IN MS — IF YOU REALLY FOCUS ON STRENGTHENING THE CORE, YOU’D INCREASE BALANCE AND MOVEMENT. THERE’S TONS OF EVIDENCE SUGGESTING IT’S HELPING WITH MS SYMPTOMS — EVEN FATIGUE. I THINK IT’S EXERCISE IN GENERAL, BUT THIS IS AN OPTION FOR EXERCISE PEOPLE MAY NOT HAVE THOUGHT ABOUT THAT CAN BE INDIVIDUALIZED. — DR. CHARITY EVANS, UNIVERSITY OF SASKATCHEWAN