airplane exacerbation

[Guest guest]

Aviva asked about preparing for exacerbation on air flights.

I have Primary Progressive, which doesn't have exacerbations per se.

So, I looked up online for them and read some things. I found an

article on the Center For Advancement of Health web site, talking

about some studies on stress triggering flare-ups.

It made me think about my own airplane experiences. (I have refused

to fly for about 9 or 10 years now). I wonder if the stress is - more

about what happens after getting off of the plane than it is the

actual flight (or the preparations for what you are going to do after

the flight)?

The research is done with women by the Departments of Psychiatry,

Neurology, Pathology and Psychology at the University of Pittsburgh.

---- " This study contributes to a growing body of evidence that

stressful life events are potent triggers of disease activity in

women with relapsing-remitting MS, " they add. " MS exacerbations may

be delayed or avoided by limiting the individual or cumulative

effects of stressful life events. "

Their results are published in the November-December issue of

Psychosomatic Medicine.

During the study year, the women experienced an average of 2.6 MS

exacerbations that lasted an average of 29 days. Eighty-five percent

of the MS exacerbations were associated with at least one stressful

life event in the prior six weeks. --- "

You can read more about the specifics of the study at this link:

http://www.cfah.org/hbns/news/flareups11-26-02.cfm

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