TiMS is delighted to announce the launch of their new document: Respiratory issues and multiple sclerosis (MS) – a consensus of evidenced-based and expert-opinion management options.
We breathe to live; it is the most important thing in life we do. We cannot exist without it. The first thing we do when we make our entrance into the world is breathe and it is the last thing we do before we exit (Dennis, 2016).
When we breathe well, we create the optimum conditions for health and wellbeing. When we do not breathe well, we start to lay the foundations for illnesses such as heart disease, high blood pressure and chest infection (Fhari, 1996).
This is because breathing affects your respiratory, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, muscular and psychological states. Breathing can also have a general effect on your sleep, memory, energy levels and concentration (Fhari, 1996).
As a group of therapists, we are very much aware that respiratory dysfunction contributes significantly to morbidity and mortality in PWMS and respiratory complications are reported as one of the most common causes of death in MS.
The TiMS Working Group has been aware that the respiratory knowledge and skills of health care professionals assessing and treating people with MS (pwMS) has been varied. Access to expert respiratory care for pwMS is also variable across the UK. Since 2014, five members of the TiMS Working Group have been developing awareness, knowledge and skills in preventing, maintaining and managing optimal respiratory health in pwMS in the form of multicentre audits, running training courses and presentations at conference.
So TiMS is delighted to announce the launch of this new document: Respiratory issues and multiple sclerosis (MS) – a consensus of evidenced-based and expert-opinion management options. This document is now available via the TiMS webpage.
The document brings together a consensus of expert opinion and evidenced-based research. The aim of the document is to be an aide-memoire to make us aware of respiratory issues in MS and to use a peak cough flow as part of an assessment in the community at all stages of the condition.
The ultimate aim is to improve the lives of people living with MS by optimising their respiratory function and minimise potential respiratory distress and hospital admissions caused by MS-related respiratory issues.
You can find out more about TiMS and the work that we do on the MS Trust website.
