Multiple Sclerosis is a disease that affects the central nervous system. It is considered an autoimmune condition wherein the body’s natural immune system attacks and destroys the myelin sheaths that cover the nerves of the body. In doing so, there is inflammation and scar tissue is left behind that is called - plaques. This effect is termed - sclerosis. And it ultimately results in the destruction of the nerves, eventually disrupting most of the normal functions of the body as messages are prevented from flowing naturally from the brain to muscles and organs. This condition can occur in the spinal cord, the optic nerve or the brain.
Although historical references describe the symptoms of this disease and early scientific research had recorded many of the conditions of MS also detailing it’s affect on the nervous system, it wasn’t until 1868 that it was defined as a specific disease. This was done by a French neurologist named Jean-Martin Charcot.
Today it is estimated that over 2,500,000 people around the world suffer from this condition. It is most often diagnosed when an individual is between the ages of twenty-five and forty, being rarely given as a diagnosis for young children or people over sixty. And as it turns out, it appears that women are afflicted nearly twice as many times as men.
Symptoms of this disease will vary from individual to individual because the portion of the nervous system that is affected may be different with each one. In the beginning stages some of these may include: some dizziness, eye problems wherein an individual may experience blurred or double images, some numbness or tingling in the hands or feet, weakness, fatigue, muscle stiffness, tremors and difficulty breathing.
As the disease progresses there can be speech difficulties, mood swings, short term memory issues, bladder and bowel problems, trouble with coordination and walking, partial or complete paralysis and extreme fatigue. Again, it is important to remember that not everyone afflicted with this condition will experience the same manifestations.
It is a disease that follows a pattern of flareups and periods of time where it seems to be in remission. It can also be relatively benign with some people who evidence only small attacks or episodes that may occur over a period of decades. For others, however, it can progress rapidly and be very degenerative. The most usual sequence is that it will appear slowly over several intermittent times and get worse with each attack.
The definitive cause of multiple sclerosis has not yet been determined. However, research has caused many theories to evolve. It is thought that overall it is most likely a result of a combination of both environmental and genetic issues. As is often the case when the cause is undetermined - there is currently no known cure for this condition. There has been however, a lot of progress made in treatments that have been shown to slow down the progression of the disease and the severity of its attacks.
