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Multiple sclerosis
From CopperWiki
Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is an inflammatory disease of the Central Nervous System (CNS) - that's the brain and spinal cord. Predominantly, it is a disease of the "white matter" tissue which is made up of nerve fibres which are responsible for transmitting communication signals both internally within the CNS and between the CNS and the nerves supplying rest of the body.
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[edit] Why should I be aware of this?
- It is still not known what causes MS. It may be an autoimmune disease, which happens when your body attacks itself.
- There is no cure for MS, but medicines may slow it down and help control symptoms. Physical and occupational therapy may also help.
[edit] All about multiple sclerosis
By affecting the brain and spinal cord, multiple sclerosis damages the myelin sheath, the material that surrounds and protects your nerve cells. As a result of this damage the messages between your brain and your body get blocked or slow down. The symptoms of MS can include:
- Visual disturbances
- Muscle weakness
- Trouble with coordination and balance
- Sensations such as numbness, prickling, or "pins and needles"
- Thinking and memory problems
[edit] Possible causes
Despite considerable research, it is not known what triggers the autoimmune destruction. At various times, evidence has pointed to genes, environmental factors, viruses, or a combination of these.
If there is a history of the disease in the family, the risk of developing MS is higher, suggesting the influence of genetic factors. In addition, the higher prevalence of MS among people of northern European background suggests some genetic susceptibility.
[edit] Diagnosis
No single test can confirm the diagnosis of multiple sclerosis as there are a number of other diseases with similar symptoms. It is, therefore, important to study the detailed medical history. A thorough search to exclude other causes of a patient's symptoms is especially important if the following features are present:
- Family history of neurological disease
- Symptoms and findings attributable to a single anatomic location
- Persistent back pain
- Age of onset over 60 or less than 15 years of age
- Progressively worsening disease
Proper diagnosis also calls for a standard neurological exam, several lab tests are used to help confirm or rule out a diagnosis of MS:
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can reveal plaques on the brain and spinal cord. *Gadolinium enhancement can distinguish between old and new plaques. This allows a correlation of new plaques with new symptoms.
- A lumbar puncture, or spinal tap, is done to measure levels of immune proteins, which are usually elevated in the cerebrospinal fluid of a person with MS.
- Evoked potential tests, electrical tests of conduction speed in the nerves, can reveal reduced speeds consistent with the damage caused by plaques.
[edit] Treatment
- Good care and attention from medical professionals often take care of most symptoms and complications.
- Important preventive measures are good health and nutrition.
- Vaccination against influenza can prevent respiratory complications.
- Preventing complications such as pneumonia, bed sores, injuries from falls, or urinary infection requires attention to the primary problems which may cause them.
- Life spans with MS get shortened mostly due to complications rather than primary symptoms themselves.
- Physical therapy helps the person with MS to strengthen and retrain affected muscles.
- Exercise and stretching programs are usually designed by the physical therapist and taught to the patient and caregivers for use at home.
- Swimming is often recommended.
- Training in bowel and bladder care may be needed to prevent or compensate for incontinence.
- Fatigue may be partially avoidable with changes in the daily routine to allow more frequent rests.
[edit] CopperBytes
- For many sufferers, MS means a lifetime of taking medications that offer little relief for a body that progressively gets worse. [1]
- Multiple sclerosis affects more than 1 million people around the world - including twice as many women as men.
- Most people experience their first symptoms between ages 20 and 40.
- This disease is unpredictable and varies in severity.
- In some people, MS is a mild illness, but, for others, it results in permanent disability.
- Doctors and researchers don't understand what causes this autoimmune reaction.
- Some evidence suggests that genetic factors make certain people more susceptible to MS than others are.
- Some researchers believe the disorder is related to a protein that mimics the myelin protein, which may be introduced into the body by a virus.
