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 part of the body does MS affect first?
Visual problems are often the first symptoms associated with MS. The optic (eye) nerve can become inflamed (optic neuritis) as the optic nerve is a common area where damage to the protective covering of nerves (demyelination) occurs. More than half of people with MS will experience at least one issue with vision.
What parts of the body does multiple sclerosis affect?
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disease that affects the brain and spinal cord (central nervous system).
What is the most common symptom experienced by people living with MS?
Numbness of the face, body, or extremities (arms and legs) is often the first symptom experienced by those eventually diagnosed as having MS.
What MS affects the most?
Early symptoms can include vision problems, trouble walking, and tingling feelings. MS affects people differently. But common problems are trouble with movement and thinking, and bowel and bladder incontinence.
What parts of the body does multiple sclerosis affect?
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disease that affects the brain and spinal cord (central nervous system).
What triggers the start of MS?
The cause of multiple sclerosis is unknown. It’s considered an autoimmune disease in which the body’s immune system attacks its own tissues. In the case of MS , this immune system malfunction destroys the fatty substance that coats and protects nerve fibers in the brain and spinal cord (myelin).
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.
What is life expectancy with multiple sclerosis?
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.
At what age does MS usually start?
What is the most common cause of death in MS patients?
Respiratory infection is a common cause of death; it contributed to 12.7% of all deaths, but this contribution increased to 22.5% for deaths attributed to MS. Increased levels of frailty and a diagnosis of chronic disease (such as MS) are associated with poorer outcomes in respiratory infection.
What is the most debilitating symptom of MS?
Fatigue is also among the most common symptoms, reported by at least 75% of MS patients at some point in the disease course. For many, fatigue is considered to be the single most debilitating symptom, surpassing pain and even physical disability.
What can worsen the effects of MS?
Multiple sclerosis (MS) triggers that worsen symptoms or cause a relapse can include stress, heart disease and smoking. While some are easier to avoid than others, maintaining a healthy lifestyle and overall health and wellness can have outsized benefits for MS patients.
What are environmental triggers for MS?
MS Environmental Factors. Environmental factors increase the risk of developing the MS. Factors include low levels of vitamin D, sun exposure, high cow’s milk consumption and more. Research has shown that environmental factors play a significant role in your susceptibility to MS.
What is considered highly active MS?
What is “highly active MS”? The term highly active MS has not been precisely defined but the most important features include frequent relapses with incomplete recovery, and/or high radiological burden of disease, rapid accrual of disability after disease onset, with otherwise typical features of MS.
Can MS be brought on extreme stress?
Although the person with MS knows from their experience that their MS symptoms started after or alongside a stressful period of time, there is no direct evidence that stress causes MS — although it might trigger it.
Does MS affect the whole body at once?
MS is thought to be an immune-mediated disease. This means that the body’s immune system attacks healthy nerve tissue, which causes nerve damage throughout the entire body.
How do MS patients know a flare up is coming?
Increased fatigue. Tingling or numbness anywhere on the body. Brain fog, or difficulty thinking. Muscle spasms.
What happens when you are first diagnosed with MS?
Feelings of shock, denial, fear, anger, anxiety, loneliness, sadness, uncertainty and guilt are all a normal part of coming to terms with a diagnosis of a lifelong condition like MS. You may feel a sense of relief or acceptance, especially if you’ve spent a long time trying to find out the reason for your symptoms.
What part of the body does MS affect first?
Visual problems are often the first symptoms associated with MS. The optic (eye) nerve can become inflamed (optic neuritis) as the optic nerve is a common area where damage to the protective covering of nerves (demyelination) occurs. More than half of people with MS will experience at least one issue with vision.
What parts of the body does multiple sclerosis affect?
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disease that affects the brain and spinal cord (central nervous system).
Does MS show up in blood work?
While there is no definitive blood test for MS, blood tests can rule out other conditions that cause symptoms similar to those of MS, including lupus erythematosis, Sjogren’s, vitamin and mineral deficiencies, some infections, and rare hereditary diseases.
