Lisa Doggett

I have MS. Isn't that enough? Haven't I already received my allotted dose of bad luck regarding my health?

Unfortunately, those of us with MS are just as likely as anyone else to develop other chronic diseases. Some of us may even be at increased risk, due to adverse effects of certain medicines and the disabling effects of MS itself, making it hard to stay active.

Many chronic diseases – like MS - are beyond our control. We can't do anything to prevent them. The causes are unknown, and the course of the disease is uncertain.  

But other chronic diseases, including some of the most common and damaging, are often preventable. While other factors, such as genetics and the environment, play a role, in many cases, our lifestyle choices - especially diet and exercise - can doom us to diseases like diabetes and heart failure or significantly improve our odds of a healthy, long life.

(Warning: I'm jumping on my soapbox again.) There IS a magic formula to improve longevity and quality of life. It's not trendy or exciting, but I can't emphasize it enough: Find a way to exercise most – or all – days of the week. Eat a well-balanced, mostly plant-based diet. Don't smoke. Don't drink to excess.

AND get tested for chronic disease. As with screening tests for cancer, screening for chronic disease can help identify risk factors and detect disease early, when it is usually easier to manage.

Heart disease and stroke are still the #1 and #4 causes of death, respectively, in the U.S. High cholesterol, hypertension, and diabetes all significantly increase the risk for both. Diabetes, which now affects 9.4% of the U.S. population – also can cause chronic kidney disease, blindness, and nerve damage and pain.

Screening tests are easy to do, and a doctor can order the right tests and help interpret the results. Here are some of the most important tests that are widely recommended:

·         Blood pressure checks should be done routinely at each visit with the primary care physician. Nearly 30% of U.S. adults have hypertension, which increases the risk of heart attack, stroke, and chronic kidney disease. Hypertension is sometimes called the "silent killer" because it usually doesn't cause any symptoms, yet it can still lead to significant damage.

·         Cholesterol screening is recommended for most men starting at age 20-30 and women starting at age 30-35, though guidelines vary and other risk factors for heart disease and stroke should be considered.

·         Diabetes screening should be done, especially since almost a quarter of people with diabetes are unaware of their condition. The American Diabetes Association recommends screening for type 2 diabetes annually in everyone starting at age 45 and in those younger than 45 with major risk factors.

·         Bone density tests are used to screen for osteoporosis, a condition that can lead to hip, spine, and other fractures by causing weak bones. Usually bone density tests are recommended for women beginning at age 65, but they may be considered earlier depending on risk factors. Older men may also benefit from bone density testing, depending on age and risk factors.

A couple other screening tests to consider include testing for HIV and screening for mood disorders such as depression and anxiety.

I'm stuck with a life sentence of MS, and I can't do anything to change that. But I am doing everything I can to avoid additional disease. I hope you'll do the same. Check out this amazing myhealthfinder app to find out exactly what tests may be recommended for you. And please share your stay-healthy strategies in the comments below.

MS may cripple or blind me. It may even cut a few years off my life. But odds are much higher that CANCER, rather than MS, will kill me. No question.

Most people with relapsing, remitting MS (the most common type) are in a similar position. Many people with other chronic diseases also have reason to fear cancer. It remains a threat to all of us.

According to the National Cancer Institute, nearly 40% of us will be diagnosed with cancer at some point during our lives. Cancer remains the second leading cause of death in the U.S. (only heart disease kills more people).

Those of us with chronic disease may be at even higher risk of cancer. My MS medication works, in part, by calming down my hyperactive immune system. Is the trade-off an increased risk of cancer? We don't know. My medicine is too new, and the studies just aren't available yet. But I'm a little bit paranoid.

So what can we do?

A lot, actually:

• Don't smoke – SO important!
• Eat fruits and veggies, 5+ servings a day – more is better. Avoid processed and "fast" foods.
• Exercise most days of the week – more is better.
• Don't drink excessively (no more than 1 drink a day for women, 2 for men).
• Get vaccinated against HPV, the virus that causes cervical and other forms of cancer, if you're under 27 (and possibly even if you're 27-45).
• Stay up-to-date with cancer screening. 

Cancer screening catches cancer early, and it can sometimes detect pre-cancer before it becomes a serious problem. Cancer screening saves lives! Make it a top priority for your health:

- For women: Cervical cancer is caused by the HPV virus and can occur even in young women. Pap smears, to screen for cervical cancer, are typically done every 3 years beginning at age 21. HPV testing may be substituted for or done in addition to a pap smear in women ages 30-65 every 5 years. Pap smears can detect cancer early and can save lives. (Cervical cancer screening can usually be stopped for women after age 65, assuming adequate prior screening.)

- For women: Mammograms, to screen for breast cancer, are recommended for all women. Guidelines vary and have changed in recent years, but mammograms are usually done every 1 to 2 years starting at age 45 or 50. The doctor can consider your specific risk factors for breast cancer and help make a decision about when to start screening, how often to screen, and when to stop.

- For men: Prostate cancer screening for men, usually ages 55-69, is controversial, but recent guidelines recommend weighing the risks and benefits with a physician.

- For everyone: Colon cancer screening - via colonoscopy, stool tests, or other methods - is important for everyone, usually beginning at age 50. There are several different options, though the "gold standard" is usually considered to be colonoscopy. Those with a family history of colon cancer should start screening earlier.

- For smokers or former smokers: Lung cancer screening – via low-dose CT scan – is an option for smokers or those who have quit in the last 15 years, who are 55-80 years old. Talk to your doctor to discuss the risks and benefits.

For more information, check out the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, Centers for Disease Control, or the American Cancer Society.

And do NOT rely on supplements, vitamins, herbs, or magic beans to prevent or treat cancer.

Stay healthy and safe, my friends. What are some of your stay-healthy and cancer-free strategies?  Please add your comments below.

As a family doctor and self-proclaimed health nut, I thought I'd never get sick. Although I saw patients every day with unexpected illness, with the right combination of a vegetarian diet + obsessive hand-washing + exercise + adequate sleep, I thought I would live to be 100. I knew the secret ingredients, the formula, for avoiding chronic disease.

And then, nine years ago, I woke up dizzy. I thought I was getting a cold that would pass in a few days. But instead of a sore throat and cough, I developed double vision and taste changes.

My MRI showed white spots; my spinal tap showed oligoclonal bands. I had MS.

Suddenly, I was no longer the physician, but the patient. I was the anxious woman sitting in waiting rooms, arguing with insurance companies, struggling to understand my doctor's instructions through a foggy, MS-induced haze. The tables were turned, and I hated it. MS, it seemed, was a thief; it had stolen my future, my certainty of health. I was angry. I still am angry.

(To keep reading, please go to the National MS Society's Momentum Blog.)