Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a potentially disabling disease of the brain and spinal cord (central nervous system). In MS , the immune system attacks the protective sheath (myelin) that covers nerve fibers and causes communication problems between your brain and the rest of your body.
What happens when you have 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 type disease is MS?
What is multiple sclerosis (MS)? Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic disease affecting the central nervous system (the brain and spinal cord). MS occurs when the immune system attacks nerve fibers and myelin sheathing (a fatty substance which surrounds/insulates healthy nerve fibers) in the brain and spinal cord.
What is unique about multiple sclerosis?
1) MS can affect the body and mind in many ways, none of which are predictable or consistent from person to person. The reason your symptoms are unique can be found in the way MS attacks the central nervous system. Thousands of nerve pathways run through the brain and spinal cord, the two components of the CNS.
What MS simplified?
transitive verb. : to make simple or simpler: such as. a : to reduce to basic essentials. b : to diminish in scope or complexity : streamline was urged to simplify management procedures. c : to make more intelligible : clarify.
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)
Can stress cause MS?
Exposure to stress has long been suspected as a factor that can aggravate MS . There are many studies showing that among people diagnosed with MS, stressful life events are associated with a significant increase in risk of MS exacerbation in the weeks or months following onset of the stressor.
How can you prevent multiple sclerosis?
- Quit smoking.
- Get adequate sun exposure and supplement with vitamin D (5,000 IU per day in winter)
- Eat a healthy diet low in saturated fat, and supplement with flaxseed oil.
- Keep your stress levels down and exercise regularly.
Can you live a normal 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.
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 are usually the first signs of MS?
- fatigue.
- numbness and tingling.
- loss of balance and dizziness.
- stiffness or spasms.
- tremor.
- pain.
- bladder problems.
- bowel trouble.
What happens with untreated MS?
And if left untreated, MS can result in more nerve damage and an increase in symptoms . Starting treatment soon after you're diagnosed and sticking with it may also help delay the potential progression from relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS) to secondary-progressive MS (SPMS).
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.
Is MS considered a disability?
If you have Multiple Sclerosis , often known as MS, you may qualify for Social Security disability benefits if your condition has limited your ability to work. To qualify and be approved for disability benefits with MS, you will need to meet the SSA's Blue Book listing 11.09.
Are bananas good for MS?
Biotin , a form of vitamin B, slightly improves disabilities in people with MS. Biotin-rich foods like liver, cauliflower, salmon, carrots, bananas, soy flour, cereals, and yeast can add power to any meal.
