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Multiple Sclerosis
Overview:
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a potentially debilitating disease in which your body's immune system eats away at the protective sheath that covers your nerves. This interferes with the communication between your brain and the rest of your body. Ultimately, this may result in deterioration of the nerves themselves, a process that's not reversible.
Signs and Symptoms:
Signs and symptoms of multiple sclerosis vary widely, depending on the location of affected nerve fibers. Multiple sclerosis signs and symptoms may include:
* Numbness or weakness in one or more limbs, which typically occurs on one side of your body at a time or the bottom half of your body
* Partial or complete loss of vision, usually in one eye at a time, often with pain during eye movement (optic neuritis)
* Double vision or blurring of vision
* Tingling or pain in parts of your body
* Electric-shock sensations that occur with certain head movements
* Tremor, lack of coordination or unsteady gait
* Fatigue
* Dizziness
Causes and Organs Affected:
Multiple sclerosis is an autoimmune disease, where the body's immune system attacks its own tissues. In multiple sclerosis, this process destroys myelin — the fatty substance that coats and protects nerve fibers in the brain and spinal cord.
Risk Factor:
These factors may increase your risk of developing multiple sclerosis: Age, Sex, Heredity, Infections, Race, Geographical factors and other diseases.
Treatment:
There is no cure for multiple sclerosis. Treatment typically focuses on combating the autoimmune response and managing the symptoms. Some people have such mild symptoms that no treatment is necessary.
Other Information:
These steps may help relieve some symptoms of multiple sclerosis: Get enough rest, Exercise, Be careful with heat, Cool down and Eat a well-balanced diet.