Thanks so much for your question.  It sounds like your daughter has a few things going on.  Maybe some of our information can help her towards a healthier direction.

First, MS aside, drinking and smoking are just plain bad for you - I think most of us are clear on that.  But they are addictions and need to be treated as such.  I suggest you and your daughter read some of our material on StopSmokingConnection.com.  Our experts have posted a great deal of advice and guidance on how to quit these habits and live a much healthier life.

As for the MS, depending on how the illness is effecting your daughter, there can be many symptoms  - from fatigue to vertigo - all need to be treated with as heathy an outlook as possible.  There are many risk factors that are relevant to this disease.  But diet and exercise are key in maintaining as much control over MS as possible - lifestyle is everything.

Hope this helps and all the best, sue

Hey Barbara

I can see how you would be worried about this!  I don't know much about the smoking and how it affects someone with MS but I have been on enough message boards and on-line support groups to have heard many stories about drinking.  When you have MS, you can have symptoms such as being off balance, sometimes vertigo, feeling unstable walking and so if you add alcohol to this mix, it could be downright dangerous. 

Sue has given some really good links for stopping smoking as well as for how to maintain general good health despite having MS. 

I know this must be difficult as folk suffering from addictions are usually not wanting to listen to well meaning advice. 

I wish you the best of luck.  I hope you come back to tell us how things are going for you and your daughter.