Hot Weather Vision Threat
Feeling the heat? In our area we have had a scorching summer.
I'm gonna keep this brief because it's just too darn hot to be sitting here typing on such a warm day (way over 100 degrees F!) I need to go splash in the pool.
Besides heat exhaustion and dehydration there is a different kind of health threat generated by extreme termperatures - Uhthoff's Phenomenon (pronounced OO-toffs). It was first described in 1890 by Wilhelm Uhthoff - who else?
This relates mostly to people with previous bouts of optic neuritis or full-blown Multiple Sclerosis. Perhaps you have a loved one being treated for these conditions.
A rise in the body's core temperature can lead to a temporary loss of vision in folks with demyelinating disorders like MS. Vigorous exercise and hot tubs can provoke Uhthoff's Phenomenon but severely warm weather can also be responsible.
Although the textbooks describe this form of blindness as temporary there have been reports of prolonged vision loss and rare permanent blindness attributed to Uhthoff's Phenomenon.
Remember that I said I'd keep this brief? Take it easy and don't overdo things when it's hot outside.
Related Topics: High Humidity Boosts Heart Attack Risk, Emergency First Aid for Heatstroke
Technorati Tags: heat wave, multiple sclerosis, Uhthoff's Phenomenon
I'm gonna keep this brief because it's just too darn hot to be sitting here typing on such a warm day (way over 100 degrees F!) I need to go splash in the pool.
Besides heat exhaustion and dehydration there is a different kind of health threat generated by extreme termperatures - Uhthoff's Phenomenon (pronounced OO-toffs). It was first described in 1890 by Wilhelm Uhthoff - who else?
This relates mostly to people with previous bouts of optic neuritis or full-blown Multiple Sclerosis. Perhaps you have a loved one being treated for these conditions.
A rise in the body's core temperature can lead to a temporary loss of vision in folks with demyelinating disorders like MS. Vigorous exercise and hot tubs can provoke Uhthoff's Phenomenon but severely warm weather can also be responsible.
Although the textbooks describe this form of blindness as temporary there have been reports of prolonged vision loss and rare permanent blindness attributed to Uhthoff's Phenomenon.
Remember that I said I'd keep this brief? Take it easy and don't overdo things when it's hot outside.
Related Topics: High Humidity Boosts Heart Attack Risk, Emergency First Aid for Heatstroke
Technorati Tags: heat wave, multiple sclerosis, Uhthoff's Phenomenon
4 Comments:
Can this be associated with a low B12 level also? Docs were checking me re: possible MS but my brain MRIs don't show lesions (just once a flow void) so they stop investigating there.
In Aug. 04 and June 05 my vision went really foggy and dim and I felt increasingly weak and stumbly. It got better after resting about 15 minutes. First time was after mowing back yard and second time was stepping into hot humid night when I had a fever but wasn't feeling too bad.
My pc says since I have narcolepsy (definite from MSLT) that can cause other odd neuro deficits just from being chronically sleepy and sleep deprived. Also my B12 is 447 and he said with level under 500 may show symptoms related to deficiency.
I've been trying to search for info if I should accept my pc doc's B12/narcolepsy explanation or if I should insist on seeing the neurologist again. I don't think these episodes could be confused for cateplexy. I'm not finding much clarity with this...
The blurry eye vision and weakness is associated with the narcolepsy, I was diagnosed hypoglocemic when i was 18 and had blurry vision come and go, only to find out 17 years later when it got worse that it wasn't from my sugar levels, it was from my nneurological disease narcolepsy stemmed from the hypocretin system in the brain which regulates the sleep /wake cycles, and the eating/ energy cycles.
After being diagnosed with MS i llearned about optic neuritis but never experienced it. After a severe bladder infection my vision was impaired and finding no relief with IV steroids my doctor said he felt it was Uhtoff's phenomena. It's been hell. I can't be out in the sun, can't take warm showers..lots of things that made life bearable.I wifh I was told about this "thing" long ago if it was a possibility.
I was diagnosed with Uhthoff's Phenomena a week ago by my Neurologist. I am a Type 1 Diabetic with an insulin pump and a sensor for blood sugars. I also am a Celiac, which means I have to eat everything gluten-free. My Uhthoff's takes place in my upper legs when I workout on the elliptical or am going up or down stairs. My legs feel sore and tight and I get tired--so tired that I have to rest every 5 - 10 minutes, so I workout for 90 minutes at a time. (This also helps me control my weight and metabolism.) I can't seem to find much on this. Di
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