Multiple_Sclerosis

Multiple Sclerosis The Causes: The causes of multiple sclerosis are unexplained but there are 4 main theories that have tried to explain the causes. The four theories include: * The immune system * The environment – A virus may trigger your immune system into attacking your own body. * Where you live – countries further from the equator suffer more. * Genetics- if someone in your family has m.s you will be more likely to get it. The symptoms: * eye problems, including pain and blurred or double vision * fatigue * muscle weakness, stiffness and spasms * bladder and bowel problems * loss of balance, coordination and dizziness * pain * numbness or tingling of your skin * difficulty speaking and swallowing * feeling emotional, anxious or depressed * sexual difficulties Diagnosis: There are different types of diagnosis but most of them depend on the symptoms you have for multiple sclerosis the diagnosis are: * Neurological examination: This is when your neurologist will look for changes or weakness in your eye movements, leg or hand coordination, balance, speech, and reflexes. This will see if your nerve pathways are damaged. * Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan: If you have a magnetic resonance imaging scan, you lie down inside a machine called an MRI scanner, while a strong magnetic field creates a detailed image of your brain and spinal cord. MRI scans can show whether there is any damage or scarring of the myelin in your central nervous system. * Evoked potentials: An evoked potentials test involves small electrodes being placed on your head, which monitor your brain waves in response to what you see and hear. It is painless and can show whether it takes your brain longer than normal to receive messages. * Lumbar puncture: A lumber puncture is also sometimes called a spinal tap. A sample of your cerebrospinal fluid (fluid that surrounds your brain and spinal cord) is taken using a needle inserted into the area around your spinal cord. This is done under local anaesthetic, which means that you will be awake, but the area the needle goes into will be numb. The sample is then tested for antibodies, the presence of which means that your immune system has been fighting a disease in your central nervous system. A lumbar puncture is usually only needed if other tests for MS are inconclusive, or for a diagnosis of primary progressive MS. Prognosis: The prognosis of multiple sclerosis depends on many things such as the individual's sex, age, and symptoms. The life expectancy of people with MS is 5 to 10 years lower than that of unaffected people. Almost 40% of patients reach the seventh decade of life. Nevertheless, two thirds of the deaths in people with MS are directly related to the consequences of the disease. Types of M.S: There are four types of MS and each progresses differently. * Benign MS: With this type you will have a few relapses (times when your symptoms flare up) and then recover. However, you need to have had very few or no symptoms for about 15 years before this diagnosis can be made. You may have a relapse after many years of not having any and it's possible that benign MS will get worse later in life. * Relapsing-remitting MS: Relapses can come on suddenly and last for between two and six weeks, although some may take a few months to clear. You may find your symptoms get gradually worse with each one or you have new symptoms. * Secondary progressive MS: our symptoms don't get better once the relapse is over and slowly build up. You are likely to become gradually more disabled even though relapses and remissions may occur less frequently. * Primary progressive MS: If you have this type, your symptoms get steadily more severe without any periods of remission. Treatment: There are treatments that can help you with the symptoms you have but there is no cure for multiple sclerosis. Regular exercises can be helpful as it can reduce the fatigue. Medicine can stop inflammation and can help to shorten the relapses. Disease-modifying drugs may slow down the progression of your disease and help to reduce the frequency or severity of attacks. Different types of medicine can be used to treat the symptoms such as pain.