Mick Blunden of Climate By Design said: “We are frequently asked to install systems to help customers experiencing hot flushes due to the menopause, but we had not been aware that MS can cause similar problems.”
According to the MS Society, around half of people with MS report sensitivity to heat. Effects can include difficulties with balance, weakness, fatigue or changes to vision or sensation.
It is thought that raised temperatures can prevent nerve fibres from working properly, and when the fibres or their protective outer layer (myelin) have already been damaged by MS, they are much more sensitive to the effects of heat.
Mr Blunden added: “It is very gratifying when customers contact us to say how much air conditioning has improved their quality of life. You think of air conditioning as something that makes things a little more pleasant in the summer, but for some people it really makes a huge difference.”
Air conditioning systems can also be operated to act as an efficient heating system, which can be an additional benefit to MS sufferers who are also often affected by the cold.