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 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.
How might you describe multiple sclerosis?
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 type of 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 sclerosis means?
Sclerosis:
Localized hardening of skin
. Sclerosis is generally caused by underlying diseases, such as diabetes and scleroderma. Treatment is directed toward the cause.
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 serious is multiple sclerosis?
MS itself is rarely fatal
, but complications may arise from severe MS, such as chest or bladder infections, or swallowing difficulties. The average life expectancy for people with MS is around 5 to 10 years lower than average, and this gap appears to be getting smaller all the time.
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.
Why is it called multiple sclerosis?
The Latin word for scar is sclerosis. Thus, the term multiple sclerosis was
chosen to describe the appearance of the brain in patients who died with this illness
. Pathologists call these scars plaques.
What does MS feel like in the beginning?
Numbness or Tingling
A lack of feeling or a pins-and-needles sensation
can be the first sign of the nerve damage from MS. It usually happens in the face, arms, or legs, and on one side of the body. It also tends to go away on its own.
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.
Do all MS patients end up in a wheelchair?
Everyone with MS ends 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.
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.
Can sclerosis be cured?
There’s currently no cure for multiple sclerosis
(MS), but it’s possible to treat the symptoms with medicines and other treatments. Treatment for MS depends on the specific symptoms and difficulties the person has. It may include: treating relapses of MS symptoms (with steroid medicine)
What is the root of sclerosis?
The Greek root is
skleros, or “hard
.” Definitions of sclerosis. any pathological hardening or thickening of tissue. synonyms: induration.
What is minor sclerosis?
Overview. Subchondral sclerosis is
the hardening of the bone just below the cartilage surface
. It shows up in the later stages of osteoarthritis. Subchondral sclerosis is common in the bones found at the load-bearing joints, such as knees and hips. Other joints can be affected, including the hand, foot, or spine.
