10. Breathing Difficulties: The Unseen Strain
While not universally experienced, some PPMS patients report shortness of breath or difficulty breathing. As the disease progresses, weakened respiratory muscles can make it challenging to breathe deeply or efficiently.
As MS damages nerves and affects muscle strength, it can impact the diaphragm and intercostal muscles, vital for the act of breathing. Over time, this can lead to decreased lung capacity and reduced oxygenation.
Breathing difficulties can curtail physical activities, impact sleep quality, and induce anxiety. The mere act of drawing a deep breath, often taken for granted, can become a task marked with effort.
Physical therapy, focused breathing exercises, and even assisted breathing devices can offer relief to affected patients. By actively addressing and managing this symptom, patients can reclaim the simple joy of a deep, unburdened breath. (10)
