Multiple sclerosis is a debilitating disease that affects the brain and spinal cord causing a host of symptoms. This inflammatory disease commonly appears in young adults and affects women more than men. The inflammation in the brain and spinal cord cause the nerve cells to lose the ability to communicate with each other and thus many different body functions can be affected. The treatment and prognosis for MS depends on how soon the disease is discovered and how much damage has been done to the body.
Defining Multiple Sclerosis
Multiple sclerosis can have many forms; however, the basic definition of the disease is that it is an inflammatory condition that occurs in the central nervous system. Myelin is a substance that is necessary for the transmission of information between the neurons. This substance normally surrounds the neurons in a healthy person; however, multiple sclerosis causes this substance to be destroyed and the communication between the neurons to be adversely affected.
Destruction of the myelin can cause many different symptoms to appear, depending on what neurons are being deprived of communication. Typical multiple sclerosis dysfunctions include sensory organs, cognitive systems, muscular system, and even the neuropsychological system that lead to dementia, mania or depression. The varieties of conditions that can be caused by multiple sclerosis often make it hard to diagnosis and even provide a true prognosis. No one can accurately predict what conditions will develop in a person with multiple sclerosis or at what rate they will occur.
Risk Factors and Causes
Medical science has not yet clearly defined the exact origins of multiple sclerosis. It appears that it can be caused by environmental factors, genetics or a combination of the two. Most doctors and scientists tend to agree that a combination of genetics and the environment are the leading cause. Viral infections have also been considered and are being further researched.
Environmental triggers such as warm climates, stress and a lack of sleep are thought to be triggers that set off the genetic chain reaction leading to symptoms of multiple sclerosis and eventually a clear case of the disease. This would lead to the idea that there are some factors that can be controlled by lifestyle to help avoid triggering the disease, such as avoiding stress and leading a healthy lifestyle with plenty of rest. However, if genetics play a strong role in the cause of MS, it will most likely eventually surface.
Incidence of MS
There are more than 350,000 cases of MS in the United States alone, with worldwide incidence being estimated at approximately 2 million people and rising every day. Most people with multiple sclerosis are diagnosed in their young adult years to mid-life, typically between 20 and 40; however, both younger and older people can be diagnosed with the disease. Additionally, while both males and females can have multiple sclerosis, the disease mainly affects women. The cause of this is not known.
Symptoms and Diagnosis
Diagnosing MS depends largely on identifying all of the symptoms as a whole and then performing the proper tests. It is difficult to get a proper diagnosis if only one or two symptoms exist and the doctor doesn’t have the overall picture to point him in the direction of MS. Some of the most common symptoms include:
- Inflammation of the body
- Muscle aches and pains
- Weakness and numbness in the muscles
- Extreme fatigue
- Loss of balance, decreased mobility
- Vision loss or decrease in vision
- Short term memory loss
- Poor concentration and mental performance
- Depression
- Dementia
- Mania
A combination of these symptoms should lead the doctor to test for MS using neuropsychological testing, extensive physical tests and lab tests that are designed for diagnosing MS, such as MRIs and lumbar punctures to test for damage to the myelin.
Treatment
Once a diagnosis has been made and multiple sclerosis confirmed the doctor will be able to put together a treatment plan based on what was discovered. Every MS patient will have a different treatment plan simply because every patient will exhibit different symptoms. Typical treatment options include the use of medications to treat inflammation, the major cause of the various pain and symptoms associated with MS.
Corticosteroids, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and beta inferno are the three most commonly used medications to fight the inflammation and other symptoms.
Typically, these medications not only relieve the symptoms but aid in preventing them from recurring. Many MS patients also take medications for the cognitive symptoms, such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and other CNS medications. These are designed to aid in the neurological effects that MS has on the body.
Living with multiple sclerosis is a daily battle to beat the pain that can often be the most detrimental part of the disease as well as losing the ability to perform many daily tasks. However, with medication and physical therapy, it is possible to get the disease to a manageable level and enjoy life.