Physical and mental health

Looking after your physical and mental health can help you live well with MS.

Some key ways to do this are to:

Have a healthy diet
Give up smoking
Keep active
Get support to manage any mental health issues
Explore ways to cope with stress, like mindfulness

Find out more about each of these in this section.

In this section

Eating and drinking

A healthy diet is good for everyone. We look at evidence and advice for drinking and eating well when you have MS.

MS and mental health

The emotional effects of MS often go undiagnosed, but there are ways to manage them. Find out more about depression, stress and anxiety.

However MS affects you, exercise can help you stay as healthy as possible. All kinds of movement can be good for you. You might enjoy sports, while someone else may prefer tai chi or yoga. Gentler activities like gardening and cleaning use your muscles too.

Mindfulness and MS

Life can be stressful, and MS doesn’t help. It’s easy to get caught up in our thoughts and worries. Mindfulness is one way people take back control.

Sleep and MS

Lots of people with MS have sleep problems, and the effects of MS can cause trouble sleeping. There are ways to sleep better and improve ‘sleep hygiene’.

Oral health

The symptoms of MS and some drug treatments can make it harder to get to the dentist or keep your teeth and gums healthy. Sometimes fairly simple changes can make things easier.

Sex, relationships and MS

With sex and relationships, MS can throw extra challenges into the mix.
But whoever you are and however MS affects you, there's ways to enjoy intimacy.

MS and coronavirus care and support

We’ve been talking to lots of people in our community about MS and COVID-19. These are some of the questions that crop up the most.

Smoking and MS

There's a range of things you can do to manage your MS. And if you smoke, making a plan to give up is one of them.

Find events near you

MS Walk 2026

Walk, roll or stroll to support everyone affected by MS.

Edinburgh Marathon Festival 2027

The Edinburgh Marathon Festival is the ultimate Scottish running experience. It's the fastest and second-largest marathon in the UK.

Saturday 29 May 2027, 8:00am

MS Living Well virtual book club

Join us for our peer-led monthly book club and connect with others from across the UK living with MS.

Thursday 30 April 2026, 7:30pm

Speak to our Physical Activity Specialist

Exercise and physical activity can help you manage your symptoms and adapt to life with MS.

If you’ve been diagnosed with MS, our Physical Activity Specialist can help you find ways to move that work for you and your symptoms.

Physical activity support for RRMS

Exercise and physical activity can help with MS symptoms and recovery from relapses. Plus, it can help with your mental health.

Our Physical Activity Specialist can help you find ways to move that work for you and your MS symptoms.

Physical activity support for PPMS

It can be hard to stay active when you’re living with primary progressive MS. But we can help you find ways to move more and stay healthy.

Our Physical Activity Specialist can work with you to make an individual action plan to stay active.

Physical activity support for SPMS

It can be hard to say active when you’re living with secondary progressive MS. But we can help you find ways to move more and stay healthy.

Our Physical Activity Specialist can work with you to make an individual action plan to stay active.

Our Physical Activity Specialist

Exercise and physical activity can help people manage MS symptoms like fatigue and balance problems. Plus, it can help with mental health.

If someone you care for could benefit from a personalised activity plan, our Physical Activity Specialist can help.

Speak to our Physical Activity Specialist

It can be hard to stay active when you have MS. But we can help you find ways to move more and stay healthy.

Our Physical Activity Specialist can help you explore ways to move more and eat healthily using different approaches.