Taking A Look At Multiple Sclerosis
What is multiple sclerosis? It is a chronic, inflammatory disease that affects the central nervous system. Although the often debilitating symptoms of the disease are clear, scientists have yet to nail down a cause. Some researchers believe that MS is triggered by the body’s own immune system, while others attribute it to viruses such as Epstein-Barr. Other scientists believe that its virtual absence from tropical countries points to a deficiency of vitamin D during childhood. With so many theories about multiple sclerosis, it’s difficult for patients to know what to believe. In this article, we’ll examine the known facts about the disease and MS treatment options.
The disease multiple sclerosis affects the brain and spinal cord by attacking the protective myelin covering of the central nervous system. This causes inflammation and often destroys the myelin in patches. MS has well defined attacks followed by complete or partial recovery. The severity of MS, progression and specific symptoms cannot be predicted at the time of diagnosis. Multiple sclerosis can occur at any age, and is three times more likely to occur in women than in men, and is seen most commonly in people of northern European background. There is also some evidence to suggest that MS is triggered by a common virus, and that genetics makes some people more susceptible to the disease.
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. One thing that’s important to remember about multiple sclerosis is that patients will not necessarily experience all the symptoms, and the symptoms improve during periods of remission. The main clinical measure of disability progression and severity of the symptoms is the Expanded Disability Status Scale or EDSS.
The most difficult fact to accept about multiple sclerosis is that there is no cure. However, there has been a lot of progress made in effective MS treatment therapies. The aims of treatment are to return function after an attack, to prevent new attacks, and to prevent disability. As with any treatment, medications have several adverse effects, and many therapies are still under investigation. At the same time, different alternative treatments are pursued by many patients, despite the scarcity of supporting scientific study in health science news. One myth about MS is that the disease is fatal. Most people who have MS can expect to live a normal or near normal life span, thanks to improvements in the treatment of symptoms.
There are four medications that have been shown in clinical trials to modify the course of the disease, and the frequency and severity of MS attacks, to reduce the number of MS lesions in the brain, and several have been shown to slow the progression of disability. It’s advisable to treat multiple sclerosis early to minimize damage to the nerves. It’s also important to undergo multiple sclerosis therapy to learn how to live with the symptoms. Work closely with your doctor, learn as much as possible about multiple sclerosis and be active in managing your disease. The best treatment is a positive attitude.
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