The importance of optimal nutrition status for the quality of life of patients. The power is a basic need that all people have to maintain the vital functions of our body and to perform our daily activities.
Knowing the recommendations of a balanced diet can help MS patients improve their quality of life.
To be healthy your diet should provide enough energy to replace daily and help keep your weight balanced weight, providing variety in the different food groups that provide vitamins and minerals.
Knowing the recommendations of a balanced diet can help MS patients improve their quality of life.
To be healthy your diet should provide enough energy to replace daily and help keep your weight balanced weight, providing variety in the different food groups that provide vitamins and minerals.
Daily
should consume 4-6 servings of starchy foods (vegetables, potatoes, cereals and cereal products such as bread), 5 servings of fruit and vegetables, 2-3 servings of dairy, 2 servings of meat (meat, fish , eggs), 3-5 servings of vegetable fat and water (about 1.5-2 liters).
should consume 4-6 servings of starchy foods (vegetables, potatoes, cereals and cereal products such as bread), 5 servings of fruit and vegetables, 2-3 servings of dairy, 2 servings of meat (meat, fish , eggs), 3-5 servings of vegetable fat and water (about 1.5-2 liters).
Very occasionally, and if there are no other diseases that contraindicate can eat fatty meats, sausages, sugar, pastries, butter and sweet treats.
Multiple sclerosis is a risk factor for malnutrition in the patient since the evolution of the disease goes through stages where there is difficulty or inability to swallow (dysphagia).
To this we add other risk factors that may be associated and accelerate the process of malnutrition and anorexia (appetite loss), oral problems (ulcers, parts shortages, infections, complications with the prosthesis), polypharmacy, loss of autonomy, restrictive therapeutic diets (no salt, ..), etc.
monitoring of nutritional status from the onset may help delay the onset of malnutrition states that favor a worse course of illness.
weight loss the patient's condition worsens and increases the risk of suffering falls, pressure ulcers or decubitus and the emergence of various infections.
On the contrary, an excessive weight gain due to a disordered diet leads to the development of obesity associated with mobility problems, hypertension, dyslipidemia, diabetes, etc.
One of the most frequent complications related to the act of feeding of this disease and worsens the patient's nutritional status is the emergence of changes in the process of swallowing, dysphagia.
Dysphagia is any alteration of the swallowing process, from placement of food in the mouth until it reaches the esophagus and its subsequent passage into the stomach. The fatal consequences that entails are malnutrition, dehydration and respiratory illnesses such as aspiration (may cause death.)
When dysphagia prevents proper nutrition is necessary for the medical team assess the possibility of feeding through a nasogastric tube or gastrostomy (feeding artificial).
This form of artificial administration of food is usually quite safe because the complications are not severe, though not free of problems, especially if not handled with care or monitoring is inappropriate. Occasionally mechanical problems, gastrointestinal, metabolic, infectious and psychological, so it resorts to its establishment only if it is really necessary.
This form of artificial administration of food is usually quite safe because the complications are not severe, though not free of problems, especially if not handled with care or monitoring is inappropriate. Occasionally mechanical problems, gastrointestinal, metabolic, infectious and psychological, so it resorts to its establishment only if it is really necessary.
Some useful tips in case of dysphagia:
• To facilitate the opening of the mouth can be covered using small, preferably touches spoon and apply ice and massage the jaw.
• To encourage chewing the tongue can be pressed to shed at the time of placing food in the mouth, squeezing the base of the chin with your finger to stimulate the start of chewing and manipulation, easy to chew soft foods , purees and creams develop and use a bottle or reeds for food and drink always be active sucking reflex.
• If you want you can use commercial ground texture modified. Provide optimum hygiene and are perfect nutritionally speaking. They are easy to prepare.
• To enhance swallowing and prevent choking change the consistency, tilt your head down at the moment and switch to swallow a bolus of solid and a liquid to facilitate the passage of food.
• It is advisable to drink cold water or soft drinks before and during the meal to trigger the swallowing reflex.
• Use thickeners for commercial liquids and gels.
Knight Marta González