Multiple sclerosis is a medical condition that not many people know too much about. Perhaps you may have heard it once or twice from charity drives or when a celebrity admits to having the condition. In as much as we know little about MS, scientists are still conducting studies to understand the condition better.
What is multiple sclerosis?
According to scientists, MS is an autoimmune disease. It affects the central nervous system, specifically the spinal column, brain, and eyes. If a person has MS, the immune system starts attacking the myelin covering of the nerves. Myelin is a protective covering that, when damaged, prevents the brain from effectively communicating with the rest of the body.
Different stages or types of multiple sclerosis
The effects of Multiple Sclerosis differ from person to person. While some only suffer from mild symptoms that won’t require treatment, others will experience debilitating symptoms that will significantly affect their quality of living. Experts identified that there are four stages of MS, which are:
- Relapsing-Remitting MS. A majority of people with MS fall under this category. The first signs of the disease manifest while they are still in their 20s. After a while, the symptoms will vanish and come back in periodic attacks. Eventually, they will start to experience remissions that will last for months, years, or weeks. The severity of attacks and the length of remission will also vary from one person to another.
- Secondary Progressive MS. After several years, a person with relapsing-remitting MS will eventually develop secondary progressive MS. In this stage, the symptoms are steady, and without any period of remission. Usually, this stage happens as early as ten years after suffering from relapsing-remitting MS.
- Primary Progressive MS. In this stage, MS symptoms gradually worsen over time. Remissions are almost unlikely to happen, and the worst part is that any known medication for MS no longer works at this stage. According to present data, about 10% of all MS patients fall into this category.
What’s interesting about MS is that until now, there’s still no cure for it. Scientists say that it’s a neurological disease, while some medical professionals argue that it’s autoimmune.
Causes and treatment
Scientists have yet to determine what causes MS, but with the help of patient data available, doctors have identified some risk factors that make a person more susceptible. For example, viral infections such as Epstein-Barr damage the immune system; when the immune system stops working correctly, it may trigger MS symptoms. There are also some studies pointing to Vitamin D deficiency as a risk factor for MS.
Since there is no cure, patients undergo therapy that will help lessen the severity of the symptoms. Your doctor may also prescribe particular medication that can slow down the progress of the disease. Drugs that contain steroids may also help shorten attacks. Some even experiment with medication intended for relaxing the muscles.
In addition to medication, a physical therapist can also teach exercises that will help manage pain, restore balance, and improve overall mobility.
Image source:
https://unsplash.com/photos/gGmSBAps6K0
Resources:
https://www.webmd.com/multiple-sclerosis/multiple-sclerosis-understanding-the-differences-in-ms
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