OK, I know I look silly wearing a neck fan — maybe even scary — but the Father’s Day gift I received from my son and his family is really cool, especially for someone with multiple sclerosis.
Just in time for the fun in the sun summer, I can now touch a button and select from three speeds of “ah” to surround my neck and tickle my ears.
For people with MS, heat can cause symptoms to worsen, so finding ways to stay cool is important.
My device is similar to others on the market, and they all work basically the same. A pair of fans rest on my shoulders and suck in air that is then blown out and up through slits in a headphone-like band around my neck. The air isn’t cooled, but even when the outside air is warm, it feels cool. The air band is charged with a computer USB port or a wall wart power supply, like the ones used with a smartphone.
These powered cooling bands cost about $50, but you don’t need to have something this expensive to cool you down.
Cooling bandannas
For as little as $3, you can go online and find a colorful cloth bandanna to tie around your neck or forehead. Some people even wrap them around their wrists or ankles. Before going out, soak the bandanna in water, which will be absorbed by gel inside it. The bandannas cool well, but only for a short period. Some advertisements claim they can last up to four hours, but I tried one years ago and had to soak it again after about an hour.
Cooling vests
Cooling vests generally have pockets with ice packs that keep you cool. One study showed that wearing one of these vests can help to improve your walking speed and distance when it’s hot.
You can buy these vests online, but if your income is below a certain level, the Multiple Sclerosis Association of America will send you one for free.
Keeping cool — or at least cooler — during exercise is good, but some research shows that cooling down before exercise also helps. In one study, people with MS who cooled down before a workout appeared to have better use of their arms and legs while exercising, and they were able to exercise longer.
Of course, jumping in a swimming pool to cool down is also good. I love swimming and aquatic exercises. Some are specifically designed for people with MS.
So chill as best you can when the heat is high. There are plenty of ways to do it, in addition to wearing a neck fan.
(This post first appeared as my column on the MS News Today website.)
