How Does Multiple Sclerosis Affect Daily Life?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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More than 50% reported limitations in daily activities due to

fatigue

, physical weakness, problems with balance/coordination, heat/cold sensitivity, memory problems, numbness/tingling, trouble concentrating, impaired movement/muscle stiffness, and impaired sleeping.

How does MS affect daily life?


Constant fatigue

is common for people with MS. This tiredness can impact all aspects of life, including effective brain use and the ability to go out and partake in activities. The symptoms of MS can cause constant discomfort and disability that limit a person’s ability to go about daily activities.

How does multiple sclerosis affect society?

The majority of individuals with MS will experience disease progression. As the disease progresses, individuals

experience greater cognitive difficulties and reduced mobility

, which affect their social and family life, as well as their ability to work.

What is it like living with multiple sclerosis?

Symptoms of MS are unpredictable and vary greatly from person to person, and from time to time in the same person. Multiple Sclerosis can cause symptoms such as

extreme fatigue

, lack of coordination, weakness, tingling, impaired sensation, vision problems, bladder problems, cognitive impairment and mood changes.

How does multiple sclerosis affect the human body?

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a disease of the central nervous system that can affect the brain, spinal cord and optic nerves. Common symptoms include

fatigue, bladder and bowel problems, sexual problems, pain, cognitive and mood changes

such as depression, muscular changes and visual changes.

What are the final stages of multiple sclerosis?

  • Vision problems, including blurriness or blindness.
  • Muscle weakness.
  • Difficulty with coordination and balance.
  • Problems with walking and standing.
  • Feelings of numbness, prickling, or pain.
  • Partial or complete paralysis.
  • Difficulty speaking.

Can you live a full life with MS?

MS isn’t a fatal condition in most cases, and

most people with MS have a close-to-normal life expectancy

. But since the disease varies so much from person to person, it can be difficult for doctors to predict whether their condition will worsen or improve.

Do all MS patients end up in a wheelchair?

Only 25 percent of people with MS use a wheelchair or stay in bed because they are unable to walk, according to a survey completed before the new disease-modifying drugs became available.

How serious is multiple sclerosis?

MS isn’t a fatal condition in most cases, and

most people with MS have a close-to-normal life expectancy

. But since the disease varies so much from person to person, it can be difficult for doctors to predict whether their condition will worsen or improve.

How long do you live with MS?

In a large 2015 study published in the journal Neurology, scientists compared 5,797 people who had MS with 28,807 people who didn’t but who did have things in common like age and location. The study found that people with MS lived to be

75.9 years old

, on average, compared to 83.4 years old for those without.

What organs are affected by multiple sclerosis?

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a disease of the central nervous system that can affect

the brain, spinal cord and optic nerves

. Common symptoms include fatigue, bladder and bowel problems, sexual problems, pain, cognitive and mood changes such as depression, muscular changes and visual changes.

What are the four stages of MS?

  • Clinically isolated syndrome (CIS) This is the first episode of symptoms caused by inflammation and damage to the myelin covering on nerves in the brain or spinal cord. …
  • Relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS) …
  • Secondary-progressive MS (SPMS) …
  • Primary-progressive MS (PPMS)

How can you prevent multiple sclerosis?

  1. Quit smoking.
  2. Get adequate sun exposure and supplement with vitamin D (5,000 IU per day in winter)
  3. Eat a healthy diet low in saturated fat, and supplement with flaxseed oil.
  4. Keep your stress levels down and exercise regularly.

What foods are bad for MS?

It’s recommended that people with MS avoid certain foods, including

processed meats

, refined carbs, junk foods, trans fats, and sugar-sweetened beverages.

How long can you live with severe MS?

Average life span of

25 to 35 years after the diagnosis

of MS is made are often stated. Some of the most common causes of death in MS patients are secondary complications resulting from immobility, chronic urinary tract infections, compromised swallowing and breathing.

Does heat make MS worse?

Many people with MS experience a

temporary worsening

of their symptoms when the weather is very hot or humid, or when they run a fever. These temporary changes can result from even a slight elevation in core body temperature (one-quarter to one-half of a degree).

James Park
Author
James Park
Dr. James Park is a medical doctor and health expert with a focus on disease prevention and wellness. He has written several publications on nutrition and fitness, and has been featured in various health magazines. Dr. Park's evidence-based approach to health will help you make informed decisions about your well-being.