Multiple sclerosis or MS is a disease that affects the brain and spinal cord resulting in loss of muscle control, vision, balance, and sensation (such as numbness). With MS, the nerves of the brain and spinal cord are damaged by one's own immune system. Thus, the condition is called an autoimmune disease .Multiple sclerosis (MS) can be thought of as an inflammatory process involving different areas of the central nervous system (CNS) at various points in time. As the name suggests, multiple sclerosis affects many areas of the CNS.
* Multiple sclerosis is more common in individuals of northern European descent.
* Women are more than twice as likely to develop multiple sclerosis as men.
Multiple sclerosis symptoms
There are a wide range of symptoms of multiple sclerosis (MS), which can vary greatly from person to person. Your central nervous system (your brain and spinal cord) controls all your body's actions, so when MS causes damage to the nerve fibers which carry messages from your brain,
In 25% of cases of MS, the first symptom is inflammation (swelling) of the optic nerve, known as optic neuritis. This usually only affects one eye, and causes pain behind your eyeball and some loss of vision.
Treatment options The nerves of the central nervous system are sheathed in myelin, a substance that assists in nerve function. Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a disease of the central nervous system that inflames the myelin and causes plaques or lesions to appear. The brain, spinal cord and optic nerves can be affected. Multiple sclerosis (MS) is one of those mysterious diseases in which the body attacks itself. In this case, immune cells called T cells mistakenly attack the so-called myelin sheaths that protect the signal-carrying fibers of nerve cells, leading to paralysis. But the promising results of an experimental therapy may offer new hope to MS patients and others who suffer from autoimmune diseases.
Drug treatment The main aims of drug therapy for MS are to shorten the duration of attacks or relapses, ease specific symptoms and slow the progression of disease by reducing the rate of the attacks.
Immunotherapy ? drugs that are taken in the form of subcutaneous (under the skin), intramuscular or intravenous injection. These medications slow the frequency and severity of attacks, which means the myelin sheaths are subjected to less damage. Immunotherapy works by modifying the activity of the immune system.
Sudden physical limitations and mood swings can be extremely difficult for the patient and their family. To help you understand what you or your loved one is going through, we'll explain some of the most common symptoms of MS and give you some tips for coping them.
MS symptoms usually appear between the ages of 20 and 40. The onset of MS may be dramatic or so mild that a person doesn't even notice any symptoms until far later in the course of the disease. Primary symptoms include impairment of the necessary transmission of electrical brain signals to muscles and the organs of the body.
The symptoms include weakness, tremors, tingling and numbness, loss of balance, vision impairment, paralysis, and bladder or bowel problems. Secondary symptoms result from primary symptoms. For example, paralysis can lead to bedsores, incontinence, and recurring urinary tract infections.
These symptoms can be treated, but the ideal goal is to avoid them by treating the primary symptoms. Tertiary symptoms are the social, psychological, and vocational complications associated with the primary and secondary symptoms. Depression, for example, is a common problem among people with MS.
Fatigue is the most common symptom of MS. It is typically present in the mid afternoon and may consist of increased muscle weakness, mental fatigue, sleepiness or drowsiness. Many MS patients report a sensitivity to heat that worsens when they go outside or take a shower. Muscle spasms are a common and often debilitating symptom of MS.
Spasticity usually affects the muscles of the legs and arms, and may interfere with a person's ability to move those muscles freely. Many people with MS complain of dizziness and lightheadedness. These symptoms are caused by damage in the complex nerve pathways that coordinate vision and other inputs into the brain that are needed to maintain balance.
Perhaps the most frightening of all multiple sclerosis symptoms is cognitive impairment. Almost half of all MS patients report slowed thinking, difficulty concentrating and loss of short term memory. Some people experience problems with their vision, but these are moderate issues that do not include blindness.
Abnormal sensations can range from numbness to extreme pain. These symptoms can be treated. However, speech and swallowing problems, tremors and problems walking can be difficult to treat because these symptoms come as a result of damaged nerves.
Dealing with your multiple sclerosis symptoms does not have to be difficult or time consuming. You may not be able to do everything that you once enjoyed, but taking medication and making a few key lifestyle choices can ensure that you still live a full life. For more multiple sclerosis information, research the disease online or contact the Multiple Sclerosis Society.
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