About Multiple Sclerosis:
- It is a long-lasting (chronic) disease of the central nervous system.
- In people with MS, the immune system attacks cells in the myelin, the protective sheath that surrounds nerves in the brain and spinal cord.
- Damage to the myelin sheath interrupts nerve signals from your brain to other parts of your body. The damage can lead to symptoms affecting your brain, spinal cord, and eyes.
- Eventually, the disease can cause permanent damage or deterioration of the nerve fibres.
- MS affects women more than men. The disorder is most commonly diagnosed between ages 20 to 40, but it can be seen at any age.
- There are many possible causes of MS, including:
- Autoimmune disorders;
- Infectious agents, such as viruses;
- Environmental factors;
- Genetic factors;
- Signs and symptoms:
- It varies widely between patients and depends on the location and severity of nerve fibre damage in the central nervous system.
- Some people have mild symptoms, such as blurred vision, and numbness, and tingling in the limbs.
- In severe cases, a person may experience paralysis, vision loss, and mobility problems.
- Treatment: There's no cure for multiple sclerosis. However, there are treatments to help speed the recovery from attacks, modify the course of the disease, and manage symptoms.
