What Is Multiple Sclerosis?
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a neurologic disorder that
affects the central nervous system (CNS). The CNS
includes the brain and spinal cord. In MS, the body’s
immune system begins to attack the nerves in the
CNS. Nerves are like wires carrying information to
and from the brain. Most nerves are covered with a
layer called myelin. Myelin acts like insulation around
the nerves. It allows signals to travel rapidly. In MS,
the immune system attacks the myelin. This weakens
or blocks the signals, leading to difficulty with normal
brain or spinal cord functioning. The CNS partly
recovers from these attacks, but the recovery is
often incomplete.
Although MS is a long-term and serious condition,
many people live full, successful, and satisfying lives
with the disorder. Most people with MS have a normal
or near-normal life span. Many people with MS do not
become severely physically disabled.
Who Develops Multiple Sclerosis?
MS mainly occurs in young adults. The average age at
diagnosis is 30. MS affects women more than men. It
is more common among whites than those of African,
Asian, or Hispanic descent. MS also occurs more often
in people who live farther from the equator.
What Causes Multiple Sclerosis?
MS is an autoimmune disease whose cause or trigger
is unknown. Autoimmune means the body’s immune
system attacks the central nervous system. Early
exposure to some types of viruses or other infections
has been linked to MS, but the evidence is mixed.
While not a genetic disease, there may be genetic
factors that make some people more likely than others
to develop MS. MS is not contagious.
What Are the Symptoms of Multiple Sclerosis?
There are several patterns of MS. At first, most people
have relapsing-remitting MS. This means symptoms
come and go. People can feel normal or close to how
they felt before the MS attack until another happens.
Symptoms usually build up over a period of hours to
days. They can last for a few days or weeks and then go
away, or remit. Attacks happen at irregular times. Some
people do build up disability from repeated attacks.
Symptoms include: |
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- Ask you carefully about your symptoms and when
they occurred
- Test your neurologic function (such as walking, strength,
reflexes, and sensitivity to touch)
- Examine your eyes for signs such as abnormal vision,
abnormal appearance of the back of the eye, abnormal
pupil responses, and changes in the way the eyes move
- Order magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain
and often of the spinal cord to look for the lesions of MS
- Conduct a spinal tap (lumbar puncture) to see if
abnormal immune activity in the spinal fluid is present
and at times to rule out other disorders
- Test your blood to rule out other disorders
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What Are the Treatment Options?
Many medications are available today to help people with
MS. Some work to slow the progress of the disease and
reduce the number of attacks. These are called diseasemodifying
treatments. Other medications can be helpful
in managing some of the symptoms of MS, such as fatigue,
stiffness, pain, bladder or bowel problems, or mood
difficulties. Other treatments can also help shorten the
course of symptoms during an attack.
The American Academy of Neurology recommends that
treatment with one of the disease-modifying medications be
considered as early after the diagnosis as possible. Talk with
your neurologist about which of these treatments is best for
you. Disease-modifying drugs are not designed to make you
feel better, but they are likely to reduce the chances of you
having relapses and getting worse.
Partnering with Your Neurologist
To provide the best care, your neurologist needs to know all
about your symptoms and medical history. Likewise, you
need to get answers to your questions. Keeping a notebook
about your condition and bringing a few well-organized
questions to your appointments can be helpful.
Living with Multiple Sclerosis
The experience of MS can be made more manageable.
By engaging in healthy behaviors, you may reduce your
MS symptoms and also improve your health and mood.
Here are some tips:
Ask about physical therapy. Physical therapy can lessen
some of the symptoms of MS, such as weakness or problems
with balance. A physical therapist can demonstrate
movement techniques and equipment that can make daily
tasks easier or safer. Talk to your neurologist or primary
care physician.
Avoid heat. Many people find that hot weather, a hot bath or
shower, or a fever temporarily makes their symptoms worse.
Avoid midday heat, bathe in warm rather than hot water,
and use ice packs, iced drinks, and cool baths to reduce
symptoms.
Eat a healthy, balanced diet. The recommended diet for
people with MS is the same one recommended for all adults.
That means plenty of fruits and vegetables, whole grains,
high-fiber foods, cutting back on fat, and avoiding foods and
drinks with added sugar.
Stop smoking. If you smoke, stop now. Recent studies have
suggested that smoking may make MS get worse faster.
Exercise. Exercise can improve overall health and may
prevent complications that arise from inactivity. Exercise can
also improve your sleep, mood, and general functioning.
Talk to your neurologist or primary care physician before
starting an exercise program.
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