There is no cure, but there are a number of medications and lifestyle changes that multiple sclerosis patients and their families can use to make the disease more manageable. In this article, we'll examine the known facts about the disease and MS treatment options.
The disease multiple sclerosis attacks the protective covering of the brain and spinal cord, causing inflammation and often damaging the myelin in patches. Multiple sclerosis symptoms vary greatly from person to person and can include vision disturbances, extreme fatigue, loss of balance, problems with coordination, stiffness of muscles, speech problems, bladder and bowel problems, short-term memory problems, and even partial or complete paralysis.
Multiple sclerosis treatment can minimize the impact of these symptoms and allow patients and their family to live a relatively normal life. MS treatment can have some side effects, so you should notify your doctor immediately if you experience an adverse reaction to your medication.
The bathroom can present challenges to multiple sclerosis patients. MS sufferers should not lock the door or shower when no one else is home, but there are safety measures that you can put into place to make using the facilities easier.
To avoid falls, hand rails should be installed by the toilet and bathtub. Showering is safer for MS patients than bathing. Run the water before you get into the tub to avoid getting burned, place a slide proof mat on the floor of the tub, and take your shower sitting down. Keep pillows and bottles in a place where they can't block the drain.
The kitchen can also be a minefield for MS sufferers. You should cook using a microwave to avoid burns and fires. If you do use a stove, then select a model with controls located at the front, use the back burners whenever possible, and use a stove guard which fits around the side or front of the stove.
It's a good idea to buy a kettle with an automatic switch-off. You should also avoid using appliances such as an electric egg beater and electric carving knives. When loading a dishwasher, point blades and other sharp objects downward. Keep regularly used household items such as utensils and towels where they can be easily reached.
The combination of medication, therapy and counseling has proven to be extremely useful to multiple sclerosis patients. Living with multiple sclerosis means that you have to take the appropriate home safety measures.
Taking these little steps will make living with MS easier for both you and your family. With ongoing MS research, hopefully one day soon there will be a cure for multiple sclerosis. For more information, contact the Multiple Sclerosis Society.
1) The cause of Multiple Sclerosis is unknown. Multiple Sclerosis scientists still do not know what causes Multiple Sclerosis but research is focused on investigating immune system and genetic causes. Scientific research has uncovered a number of candidates: Trauma, Environment,Genes, Immune System and Viruses. Some say that Multiple Sclerosis is caused when the immune system somehow perceives myelin as an intruder into the system and attacks MS. Myelin is a fatty material around nerves that acts like the insulation around electrical wires.
2) Multiple sclerosis affects appr one third of a million Americans and every week some 200 people are diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. That is more than one person an hour. Across the world, more than 2.5 million people have the disease. Multiple sclerosis affects not just the person with MS but also family and friends. Did you also know that women are affected more than men are? The disorder most commonly begins between ages 20 and 40, but can strike at any age. Multiple sclerosis is not contagious.
3) Limited research reports a possible relationship between caffeine use and multiple sclerosis, although evidence is not definitive in this area.
4) People with multiple sclerosis (MS) are at an increased risk for osteoporosis. This increased risk is not a direct result of the MS disease process, but as a secondary factor of some of the treatments used in MS, and a reduction in physical activity in people with MS due to disability.
5) While there's no cure today for multiple sclerosis yet, significant advances have been made over the past decade to understand the disease better and develop more effective multiple sclerosis treatments. Today, people with multiple sclerosis have choices including the options of injectable and infusion therapy. With the right support, information and treatment, you can manage your MS successfully. The most common therapy for an attack, also called an exacerbation, is the use of steroids. Steroids reduce the swelling and permit more rapid healing. Talk to your doctor to learn more about multiple sclerosis treatments that may be right for you.
Remember, The best possible defense against all diseases is the intake of a rich balanced diet that strengthens the immunity system.
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