|
|
|
WHAT'S NEW
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
Multiple sclerosis symptoms and treatment explained
|
|
|
From diagnosis and treatment to prognosis and risk factors, find out what you need to know about MS.
|
|
|
By Vickie Reichardt
|
|
|
|
|
Most of us have heard of multiple sclerosis (MS) -- celebrities like Montel Williams, Teri Garr and Annette Funicello have battled the disease publicly, and the incidence of MS in Canadians has risen to 1 in 500 in recent years.
But what is multiple sclerosis, and how is it treated? Dr. Paul O'Connor, national scientific and clinical advisor for the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada provides some insight:
What is multiple sclerosis?
Multiple sclerosis is an autoimmune disease in which the body's immune system attacks the brain and spinal cord, damaging the nerves and diminishing a person's ability to move and feel. There are different types of the disease, which vary in severity:
- Clinically Isolated Syndrome (CIS), which is a one-time attack lasting at least 24 hours
- Relapse Remitting MS (RRMS), which is the most common form of the disease and involves repeated attacks followed by partial or complete recovery
- Progressive MS, in which disability increases gradually over time
Multiple sclerosis symptoms and signs
In the same way there are different forms of MS, the symptoms of the disease can vary from person to person and can crop up at any stage of the illness. Most commonly, symptoms include:
- problems with balance and coordination
- blurred or double vision
- numbness or weakness in muscles, sometimes paralysis
- severe fatigue
- bladder or bowel irregularities
Multiple sclerosis diagnosis
Many of the symptoms of MS are also symptoms of other conditions, so your doctor takes a thorough medical history along with blood work to rule out other diseases. Tests are done on the brain and to evaluate nerve function, and an MRI may be taken of the brain and spine. As well, samples of spinal fluid might be taken and examined.
Multiple sclerosis risk factors
A number of different things can increase your likelihood of developing MS -- some of which may surprise you:
- the incidence of MS is higher in women than men, though men tend to develop more severe cases
- the incidence of MS is higher in countries with less sunshine than those closer to the equator, and researchers believe this may be linked to vitamin D deficiencies.
- MS occurs more often in white-skinned people
- viral infections (e.g., infectious mononucleosis) can increase your risk or actually trigger MS in someone who is susceptible to it
In addition, your genes play a role in your chances of developing MS, but researchers aren't yet sure which ones or why. "There are also definitely genetic factors that play a role in risk, and we're busy trying to figure out which factors they are," says Dr. O'Connor. "What we know is that it's certainly not one genetic factor; there are multiple factors, each of which gives you a little bit more of a risk."
Click to continue...
Page 1 of 2
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 more articles |
|
|
|
|
|
|
