Ladies, did you know that more women are affected by multiple sclerosis than men? The ratio is almost up to 4:1. Multiple sclerosis is a condition that attacks the nervous system and causes symptoms such as fatigue, difficulty walking, and impaired communication.
Until now, there is still no medicine that can be used to cure this condition, but the symptoms can be alleviated if appropriately handled. Here are some things you need to know about multiple sclerosis.
What is multiple sclerosis?
Multiple sclerosis is a chronic condition that involves the central nervous system, namely the brain and spinal cord. When a person has multiple sclerosis, the body's immune system attacks the protective coating (myelin) that covers nerve fibers, causing communication disorders between the brain and all body parts. Ultimately, the disease can cause permanent damage to nerve fibers.
Multiple sclerosis occurs due to damage to the central nervous system.
What are the symptoms of multiple sclerosis?
Signs and symptoms of multiple sclerosis vary from person to person and are affected by the location of the damaged nerves and the severity. Some people with multiple sclerosis may experience a loss of the ability to walk independently or even a complete loss of the ability to walk.
Symptoms of multiple sclerosis can also change in severity yearly, monthly, or daily. The following are some of the symptoms that are often associated with multiple sclerosis:
1. Difficulty walking
This can be caused by numbness in the legs, loss of balance, weakened muscles, reduced vision, or a combination of these.
2. Vision problems
Vision problems are often the first noticeable symptom in people with multiple sclerosis. Some common vision problems associated with multiple sclerosis include optic neuritis, diplopia, nystagmus, and even blindness.
3. Speech disorder
Multiple sclerosis leaves scars on the brain that can affect a person's speaking ability. This speech disorder is also called dysarthria and can be mild to severe.
4. Some other symptoms
Some other symptoms that are also often found in people with multiple sclerosis are:
- Acute or chronic pain
- Tremors
- Problems with cognitive abilities involving concentration, memory, and choice of words
- Difficulty chewing and swallowing food
- Sleep disorders
- Impaired bladder control
What causes multiple sclerosis?
Until now, the cause of multiple sclerosis is still unknown. This disease is entered as an autoimmune disease in which a person's immune system attacks its own tissues. In the case of multiple sclerosis, this immune system malfunction destroys the fatty substances that coat and protect nerve fibers in the brain and spinal cord.
The following factors and conditions are thought to play a role in increasing a person's risk of multiple sclerosis:
- Multiple sclerosis can appear at any age, but symptoms usually appear between the ages of 20 and 40.
- Women have a 2-3 times greater chance of having this condition when compared to men.
- Although it's not an inherited disease, you're at greater risk if you have a parent or sibling with multiple sclerosis.
- Vitamin D deficiency and sun exposure are associated with a greater risk of multiple sclerosis.
- The relationship between obesity and multiple sclerosis has been found in female patients, especially obesity in childhood and adolescence.
- Smokers who experience early symptoms of multiple sclerosis are more likely to develop second or subsequent symptoms than non-smokers.
- Certain autoimmune diseases, such as thyroid disease, anemia, psoriasis, or type 1 diabetes, carry a slightly greater risk of developing the condition of multiple sclerosis.
Smoking can cause various health problems, including multiple sclerosis.
Multiple sclerosis is a disease that will last a lifetime. You will experience various challenges that can change over time.
People with multiple sclerosis should stay in touch with their doctors, learn about their condition, and find out what makes them feel better. You can consult a doctor at Fitie if you have any symptoms for an initial diagnosis!
Sources:
Mayo Clinic Staff. (2022). Multiple sclerosis. [online]. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/multiple-sclerosis/symptoms-causes/syc-20350269
Ann Pietrangelo, A. & Moawad. H. (2022). Understanding Multiple Sclerosis (MS). [online]. https://www.healthline.com/health/multiple-sclerosis