What can I do to prevent symptom flares and stay comfortable?

What can I do to prevent symptom flares and stay comfortable?

There are many steps you can take to feel your best and ease discomfort. These include:

• Avoiding food and beverage triggers: Pay careful attention to what you eat and drink so that you don’t consume items like caffeine or spicy foods that may raise your temperature.
• Exercising: Choose gentle activities that get you moving without significantly raising your temperature. These include swimming, yoga and Tai Chi.
• Staying in cool environments: If you will be outdoors, try to do so in the morning when temperatures are cooler.
• Bathing carefully: Choose showers instead of baths to avoid skin injuries. You can also keep your body cool by opening a window and using lukewarm water.
• Planning ahead: Since symptom flares tend to occur at night, take care of essential tasks earlier in the day.
• Getting organized before sleeping: Keep a fan or portable air conditioning unit near your bed. And use the lightest possible bed sheets or no top sheets at all.