Know More About Multiple Sclerosis: A Serious Brain Disorder

Multiple sclerosis is the medical condition where the protective covering of the nerves gets dissolved by the immune system of the person itself. This loss of coverage of the nerves leads to communication disruption between the brain and the body. It is a chronic medical issue that can last for years or be present lifelong once occurred in a person. MS shortly abbreviated for multiple sclerosis, affects the brain, spinal cord, and optic nerves present in the eye. It is a long-lasting disease—causing problem with vision, muscle, balance, and many other body parts' functions.

Causes of Multiple Sclerosis:

The cause of multiple sclerosis is unpredictable and unknown. Environmental and genetic factors as a combination can trigger multiple sclerosis. It is an autoimmune disease where the nerves are attacked by its immune system. The reason why this occurs in some people and not others is not known.

Risk factors that might trigger the multiple sclerosis condition in a person are :

• Age factor: This MS condition is common in people aged between 16 to 55. Nowadays, age is not a measure of it, as people from all age groups are prone to it.
• Hereditary: If any person in the family has this medical condition, it is highly likely that it will get carried down to siblings or children.
• Gender: Women are more prone to get multiple sclerosis at a higher rate than observed in men.
• Viral infection: Many viruses, one of them being Epstein-Barr can be the cause of the MS condition in a person.
• Climatic conditions: The presence of MS is seen at a more significant percentage in places with cold climatic conditions compared to other sites.
• Vitamin deficiency: Low-level vitamin-D presence, and less exposure to sunlight is another reason that can cause multiple sclerosis.
• Smoking: People who smoke and also who are nearby to smokers for the long term—both of them experience multiple sclerosis.

Symptoms of Multiple Sclerosis:

There are many symptoms to identify the MS condition, and no two persons are seen to have the same symptoms. Based on age, gender, health, and climatic conditions, each person exhibits different symptoms.

Common symptoms observed in a person possessing MS are:

• Optic neuritis: In this condition, the nerve between the eye and the brain gets hampered. Generally, one eye is affected and rarely both eyes. Eye pain and blurred vision are other signs accompanying MS.
• Numbness and tingling sensation: Tickling or numbness in the legs is also among the common symptoms. The travel of a shock-like feeling from the spine into the arms and legs and tingling will be other effects of MS.
• Bladder and bowel related issues: Needing to pee more, or having a problem emptying bladder; bowel issues are common with people suffering from MS.
• Clumsiness: The disruptive communication between the brain and the body creates imbalance, and one might feel dizziness too. The individual can also experience troubles while walking, and even vertigo.
• Muscle issues: Leg muscles will be the first to be affected in MS, and one feels very tired with the slightest walk or exercise.
• Speech and thinking problems: The person may also take longer in the case of thinking and may face difficulties in proper speech. Long pauses between words while speaking is due to the person experiencing fuzzy memory.

Diagnosis and Treatment of MS:

One can undertake treatment for Multiple Sclerosis but cannot get rid of it. If the person is in the initial stages of MS, proper treatment given can cure the person suffering, not leading to permanent damage to the nerves. Based on the type and amount of nerve damaged, the signs and symptoms also vary. Treatment can make the person recover fast, and medication can be given to manage the symptoms.

Treating an MS-affected person include:

• Medications: Based upon the nerves damaged, medications can be prescribed by the doctor to give relief. For pain and also to slow down the disease's progression. One of the active drugs is tecfidera-medication for sclerosis. This medicine is a pill to be taken once in two days that reduces the risk of MS up to 49 percent.
• Therapies: Joining a support group, counseling sessions by a doctor, and physical therapy can highly motivate the person to be mentally and physically healthy to fight the MS condition.
• Exercises: Physical exercises relax the body and also ensure the free flow of blood along with easing the body's movement to avoid any discomfort for the person suffering from multiple sclerosis.