Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disease. It is a chronic and disabling disease of the brain and central nervous system (the spinal cord). An autoimmune disorder is a disorder caused by the reaction of an individual’s immune system against the organs and tissues of the body. In MS, “when a certain part of the myelin sheath (nerve cover) is inflamed and damaged, transfer of impulses through neutrons, is disturbed, slow or intermittent" (Tanovis, Vrabac, Kadic, Rama, Tanovic, 2014). This means that when the immune system continuously attacks the protective covers over nerves it causes communication problems between the brain and the rest of the body. And eventually the nerves become permanently damaged or deteriorates. Most MS patients …show more content…
It all depends on an individual's symptoms and the length and duration of relapses (attacks) and remission (period where the disease exhibits no …show more content…
Fifteen to 20% of patients will have a progressive course from the onset. There is significant interpatient variability in prognosis. The main diagnostic criteria are clinical, supported by investigations including magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and lumbar puncture and evoked potentials"(Tsang, B. K. -., & MacDonnell, R. (2011). The disease is treated first with modifying agents for relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis which include Interferon-B and glatiramer. First relapses are treated with intravenous methylprednisolone for 3 days. Symptoms that may prove bothersome are pain, fatigue, tremors, depression, spasticity (rigidity in muscles causing stiffness and restriction of movement), erectile dysfunction and
... of the treatment methods that I previously mentioned. She also put a great deal of effort into resisting treatment, which in my research I found is actually fairly common. Several studies reported that, although symptom remission could be obtained for 27% of patients within 4 weeks and 45% within 5 years following treatment initiation, 20– 30% of patients reached a treatment-resistant status on the other side. (Kanahara, et al., p. 1)”
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a disease affecting the myelination of the central nervous system, leading to numerous issues regarding muscle strength, coordination, balance, sensation, vision, and even some cognitive defects. Unfortunately, the etiology of MS is not known, however, it is generally thought of and accepted as being an autoimmune disorder inside of the central nervous system (Rietberg, et al. 2004). According to a study (Noonan, et al. 2010) on the prevalence of MS, the disease affects more than 1 million people across the world, and approximately 85% of those that are affected will suffer from unpredictably occurring sessions of exacerbations and remissions. The report (Noonan, et al. 2010) found that the prevalence of MS was much higher in women than in men, and that it was also higher in non-Hispanic whites than in other racial or ethnic groups throughout the 3 regions of the United States that were studied.
What is Multiple Sclerosis? Ms is an Autoimmune disorder. When the disorder progresses the nerves will be damaged and so the damaged is caused by inflammation. Another thing is the cells that were protected by a layer will be damaged as well. So when you have the damaged cell this will lead to the brain and the spinal cord. So that is what MS is.
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is generally thought to be an autoimmune disease that attacks the myelin sheaths, or oligodendrocytes that cover nerve axons in the central nervous system (PubMed Health 2013). This immune response causes inflammation, which triggers immune cells to destroy axons “along any area of the brain, optic nerve, and spinal cord” (PubMed Health 2013). When the myelin sheath “is damaged, nerve signals slow down or stop” thus hindering the propagation of action potentials and limiting function (PubMed Health 2013).
According to National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is an unpredictable, often disabling disease of the central nervous system (CNS) that disrupts the flow of information within the brain, and between the brain and body. The central nervous system (CNS) comprises of the brain and the spinal cord. CNS is coated and protected by myelin sheath that is made of fatty tissues (Slomski, 2005). The inflammation and damage of the myelin sheath causing it to form a scar (sclerosis). This results in a number of physical and mental symptoms, including weakness, loss of coordination, and loss of speech and vision. The way the disease affect people is always different; some people experience only a single attack and recover quickly, while others condition degenerate over time (Wexler, 2013). Hence, the diagnosis of MS is mostly done by eliminating the symptoms of other diseases. Multiple sclerosis (MS) affects both men and women, but generally, it is more common in women more than men. The disease is most usually diagnosed between ages 20 and 40, however, it can occur at any age. Someone with a family history of the disease is more likely to suffer from it. Although MS is not
It has been 9 months since my diagnosis, and I am still learning coping mechanisms and pain management. Not everything is 100% though. In a perfect world it would be, but also in a perfect world there would be no disease or sickness. I can only hope for the best and continue living life as I have been for the last 28 years. There may be many changes in my life, some are worse than others, and instead of viewing them as disadvantages I will see them as a metamorphosis. At the end of this journey, I will emerge a stronger person who can withstand fire and brimstone, so to speak. For now I will continue to smile and walk through live with my head held high, even though my body is a battlefield filled with constant aches and pains.
...agnosed at a later stage, most people die within two years of diagnosis and treatment.
...t behavior, and abnormal physical movements. Despite the positive outlooks one must remember that the seizures do take a toll on a person’s health and although the brain in most cases is able to withstand seizure problems without any neuro-degeneration events or any morphologic changes; those with AS should expect to see life expectancy drop anywhere from 10-15 years. With that being said, that still gives anyone afflicted a maximum of 65-70 years if treated correctly which can be considered a good thing because there are other disorders that can do a lot more damage.
Wiley Online Library, 2013. The Epidemiology of Multiple Sclerosis [online] Available at: <. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1600-0404.1997.tb08143.x/abstract> [Accessed 05 December 2013].
Patients are presented with Multiple Sclerosis in various different forms and experience symptoms to different degrees – mild, moderate or severe. While some patients’ predominately experience emotional or cognitive dysfunction, others may be presented with loss of muscle control, and/or visual, balance and sensation symptoms. Other symptoms include fatigue, bladder and bowel problems.
symptoms between the ages of 30 and 50, but has been known to show itself in
Physical and occupational therapy may also help. Multiple sclerosis is not a fatal disease. Most people with MS have a normal or near-normal life span and usually die from the same conditions that affect general population (heart disease, cancer). Multiple Sclerosis symptoms can negatively affect the quality of life. Suicide rates among patients with multiple sclerosis are higher than average. The majority of patients with MS do not become severely disabled. Women tend to have a better outlook than men. MS has long been known, yet diagnosis remains difficult due to the complexity of the disease and its wide array of signs and symptoms. Treating MS still relies on symptomatic relief, but therapeutic advances in the form of DMDs have shown promising
Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a complicated chronic deteriorating disease that has an effect on the central nervous system (CNS). This disease causes destruction of the myelin around the nerve fibers. “The exact etiology of Multiple Sclerosis is unknown; however, it is thought to be an immune mediated disease. MS is characterized by CNS inflammation, demyelination, and axonal loss” (Compston & Coles, 2008). Typically, it is described by early relapses and remissions of neurological signs of the CNS. This is known as relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS). MS can be identified by a variety of known risk factors. Multiple Sclerosis can be brought on by a mixture of inherited and environmental risk factors such as smoking or an exposure to a virus like Epstein Barr. The inflammatory process has an interesting role on the central nervous system.
Multiple Sclerosis is a nervous system disease that affects the spinal cord and the brain by damaging the myelin sheaths that protects nerve cells. Destroyed myelin prevents messages from communicating and sending properly from the brain, through the spinal cord, to internal body parts. In the United States, more than 350,000 people are diagnosed with this disease. Anyone can get this disease, but it is more common among Caucasian women. MS symptoms begin between the ages 20-40 and are caused by nerve lesions being present in multiple areas of the Central Nervous System, symptoms differ on the lesion’s location.
It is clear that Multiple Sclerosis is a dreadful disease. Its multiple variations not only induce neurological debilitation but it can also bring about other disorders. Unfortunately, a cure hasn’t been created yet but medications and a healthy lifestyle can make the victim’s life much easier.