MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS

 

 LIVING WITH HOPE IN MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS!!

INTRODUCTION:

          Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a central nervous system illness that affects the flow of information inside the brain and between the brain and the rest of the body. It's a brain and spinal cord condition that can be devastating. The protective sheath (myelin) that surrounds nerve fibres is attacked by the immune system in MS, causing communication issues between the brain and the rest of the body. The condition might eventually cause permanent nerve injury or degeneration.

CAUSES:

        Multiple sclerosis has no recognized aetiology. It's classified as an autoimmune illness because the immune system attacks the body's own tissues. This immune system dysfunction in MS causes the fatty substance that coats and protects nerve fibers in the brain and spinal cord to be destroyed (myelin). Myelin is similar to the insulation that protects electrical cables. The messages that go along that nerve fibre may be slowed or inhibited if the protecting myelin is broken and the nerve fibre is exposed..

           It isn't clear why MS develops in some people and not others. A combination of genetics and environmental factors appears to be responsible.

                                     

SYMPTOMS:

        Depending on where the damaged nerve fibres are located, the signs and symptoms of multiple sclerosis can vary widely from person to person and during the course of the disease. Movement is typically hampered by symptoms such as:

1. Numbness or weakness in one or more limbs, usually on one side of the body at a time, or in the legs and trunk
2. Certain neck movements, particularly bending the neck forward, cause electric shock feelings (Lhermitte sign)
3. Tremor, a shaky gait, or a lack of coordination

Vision issues are also frequent, and include:

• Partially or completely lost vision, usually in one eye at a time, and often accompanied by pain while moving the eyes.

Multiple sclerosis symptoms may also include:

•          Slurred speech
•          Fatigue
•          Dizziness
•          Tingling or pain in parts of your body
•          Problems with sexual, bowel and bladder function

TREATMENT:

           There is no known cure for multiple sclerosis; treatments can substantially improve the symptoms.

Medication:

         Corticosteroids are drugs that are used to treat inflammation and inhibit the immune system.

         Interferon beta blockers: The progression of the disease can be delayed.

Therapy:

1. Plasmapheresis is a procedure in which a patient's blood is drawn, the plasma separated, and new plasma is put back into the patient to remove antibodies that target the nerves.
2. Physical therapy aids in the maintenance of mobility and physical activities.
3. Occupational therapy: This is used to avoid disease-related impairment.
4. Speech and physical therapy are two types of therapy that might help you enhance your speaking skills.
5. Immunotherapy: This type of treatment focuses on immune cells or processes that are thought to be relevant in the progression of the disease.

Nutrition

            Multiple Sclerosis does not require a special diet. Certain meals may be beneficial to people with Multiple Sclerosis. This is supposed to be unique to each individual.

RISK FACTORS:

            These factors may increase your risk of developing multiple sclerosis:

1. Age. MS can strike at any age, however it commonly strikes between the ages of 20 and 40. Younger and older persons, however, may be affected.
2. Sex. Relapsing-remitting MS affects more than two to three times as many women as it does males.
3. History of the family. You have an increased risk of acquiring MS if one of your parents or siblings has had the disease.
4. Several infections. MS has been associated to a number of viruses, including Epstein-Barr, the virus that causes infectious mononucleosis.
5. Race. White people, particularly those of Northern European ancestry, are the most vulnerable to MS. Asian, African, and Native American peoples have
 the lowest risk.
6.  Climate. MS is far more prevalent in temperate settings, such as Canada, the northern United States, New Zealand, southeastern Australia, and Europe.
7. Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin. Low vitamin D levels and limited sunshine exposure are linked to an increased risk of MS.
8. A number of autoimmune illnesses. If you have other autoimmune conditions including thyroid disease, pernicious anaemia, psoriasis, type 1 diabetes, or inflammatory bowel disease, you're at a slightly increased risk of having MS.
9. Smoking. Smokers are more likely than nonsmokers to acquire a second event that confirms relapsing-remitting MS after experiencing an initial event of symptoms that may signify MS.