5 Multiple Sclerosis Facts You Should Know
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a neurological disease. This disease affects your nerves.
The real cause of multiple sclerosis is still unknown. It’s an autoimmune disease in which the body’s immune system attacks its own tissues. This immune system malfunction destroys myelin, a protective substance that covers your nerves.
Here are some of the facts that you must know about multiple sclerosis.
1. It’s a chronic condition
Multiple sclerosis is a chronic condition and there’s no cure for it. Approx. 2 million people in the world suffering from MS have a standard life expectancy. Multiple sclerosis is a lifelong condition, however, some of its symptoms can be managed and controlled with proper treatment and lifestyle changes.
2. Symptoms vary
Some of the symptoms of Multiple sclerosis are:
- Numbness and tingling
- Balance and mobility issues
- Vision problems
- Slurred speech, and more
Symptoms may vary from person to person and each person experiences the disease differently. The same symptoms may come and go frequently.
3. MS involves relapse and remission
People seeking treatment for MS might experience relapses and remissions from time-to-time.
- Relapse is a situation when you start experiencing a flare-up of symptoms again.
- In remission state, you experience no symptoms of the disease. This state can last for weeks, months, or, in some cases, years. MS medications can help put you into remission, but you still have MS disease. Remember, the MS symptoms can return at some point.
4. There’s a cognitive side of MS
MS sclerosis can affect your thinking and other cognitive skills. People suffering from MS disease face memory issues and might feel difficulty in finding the right words to express themselves. Other cognitive effects can include:
- Inability to focus or pay attention
- Impaired problem-solving skills
- Issue with spatial relations
- You may experience depression, frustration, and anger.
5. Anyone can get MS
According to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, approx. 200 people get diagnosed with MS every week. MS affects approximately 250,000 – 350,000 people in the US and 2.5 million people worldwide. This disease is more common in women than men and occur in people between 20 and 40, but people of any age can get it.
MS acts differently in each person. If you’re suffering from MS, make sure to follow the treatment plan that your doctor has recommended you. However, a cure for MS disease does not exist yet, medicine industry has come a long way. New drugs have been approved to reduce symptoms of the rarer relapsing forms of MS.
