9 Multiple Sclerosis Facts You Should Know

Health Line

6 days ago

Multiple sclerosis is a chronic condition that currently does not have a cure. Over 1.8 million people worldwide live with MS. Symptoms vary from person to person but can include numbness, tingling, slurred speech, and vision problems.
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a neurological disease, which means it affects your nerves. It's also an autoimmune disease. This means your body's defenses against disease malfunction and start attacking your own cells.
With MS, your immune system attacks your body's myelin, which is a protective substance that covers your nerves. The unprotected nerves are damaged and can't function as they would with healthy myelin. The damage to the nerves produces a wide range of symptoms that vary in severity.
Read on for some key facts you should know about MS.
1. MS is a chronic condition
Multiple sclerosis is a chronic condition, which means it's long lasting, and there's no cure for it. That said, it's important to know that for most people who have MS, the disease is not fatal.
The World Health Organization reports that more than 1.8 million people worldwide live with MS. Research indicates that people with MS will typically have an average life expectancy similar to people who do not have MS. Research also suggests that a rare few may develop complications so severe that their life expectancy may be negatively affected.
Although MS is a long-term condition, medications and lifestyle adjustments are helpful in managing most of its symptoms.
2. MS affects younger adults, and often women
The National Multiple Sclerosis Society (NMSS) reports that though healthcare professionals diagnose MS in children and older adults, those affected typically receive a diagnosis between ages 20 and 40 years.
When a person over age 50 receives a diagnosis, it's usually called late-onset MS. Older adults sometimes have a more difficult time finding a diagnosis due to other, age-related conditions with similar symptoms.
The National MS Society reports that women are three times more likely than men to be diagnosed with MS.
3. MS can be difficult to diagnose
MS can be challenging to diagnose. Symptoms and single tests may not be enough to definitively diagnose MS. MS shares symptoms with a number of other conditions, making pinpointing the source harder.
Multiple tests to rule out other possible causes of the symptoms are usually required, including:
blood tests
neurological exams
magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
visual evoked potential (VEP) test
spinal fluid analysis
optical coherence tomography (OCT)
4. MS symptoms vary
The list of possible MS symptoms is long. It includes numbness and tingling, vision problems, balance and mobility issues, and slurred speech.
There's no such thing as a 'typical' symptom of MS because each person experiences the disease differently. The same symptoms may come and go frequently, or you may regain a lost function, such as bladder control.
The unpredictable pattern of symptoms has to do with which nerves your immune system attacks at any given time.
5. MS involves relapse and remission
Most people who seek treatment for MS go through relapses and remissions.
Remission is a period in which your relapsing symptoms improve. A remission can last for weeks, months, or, in some cases, years. But remission does not mean you no longer have MS.
MS medications can help reduce the chances of developing new symptoms, but they do not cure MS. Symptoms will likely return at some point.
6. There's a cognitive side to MS
The damage MS does to your nerves can also affect your critical thinking and other cognitive (mental) skills. It's not uncommon for people with MS to have problems with memory and finding the right words to express themselves.
Other cognitive effects can include:
inability to concentrate or pay attention
impaired problem-solving skills
trouble with spatial relations (knowing where your body is in space)
Cognitive problems can sometimes lead to frustration, depression, and anger. These are typical reactions that your doctor can monitor and help you manage.
7. MS is a silent disease
MS is labeled as a 'silent disease' or an ' invisible illness.' Many people with MS look no different from someone without it because some of the symptoms, such as blurred vision, sensory problems, and chronic pain, aren't visible.
However, someone with MS may need special accommodations even if they don't have mobility issues and seem fine.
MS is also called a silent disease because even during remission, the disease still progresses. This is sometimes referred to as the 'silent progression' of MS.
8. It helps to stay cool
Doctors recommend that people with MS stay cool whenever possible. Heat intolerance is a common problem and often causes an exacerbation of symptoms. Unlike people who don't have MS, heat intolerance doesn't just mean experiencing discomfort because of high heat — it's a temporary worsening of MS symptoms.
You might experience a spike of symptoms from:
hot weather or sun exposure
fever or illness
hot baths or showers
overheating from exercise
Use fans and air conditioning, cool drinks, and icy compresses to keep cool. Wear layers of lightweight clothing that are easy to remove. A cooling vest can also help.
It's important to note that although you may have a relapse that's heat-related, hot temperatures do not cause MS to progress more quickly.
9. Vitamin D plays a role
Research indicates a link between vitamin D and MS. The nutrient may protect against MS, and it may lead to fewer relapses in people who already have the disease. Researchers note that more research is needed to better understand the relationship between vitamin D and MS.
Sunlight triggers the production of vitamin D in your body, but sun exposure can also lead to heat-induced symptoms.
Other sources of vitamin D can include fortified milk, orange juice, and certain breakfast cereals. Cod liver oil, swordfish, salmon, tuna, and eggs are also natural food sources of vitamin D.