I remember 18+ years ago being at that neurologist office when my entire left side of my body wasn’t functioning. I couldn’t really walk, I had muscle atrophy, numbness, weakness and gait difficulty. The doctor asked if anyone else in my family had MS. He knew before the MRI was even done. I sat crying in a chair as my mom leaned in front of me and said “everything was going to be ok”. We got in the car to drive home after a very long afternoon tears still falling down my face and I said “mom, what’s MS”? My only resource at the time was an old set of encyclopedias, remember those? MS had a paragraph. Today so much more is known but still so much is unknown…
According to WebMD
Multiple sclerosis, or MS, is a long-lasting disease that can affect your brain, spinal cord, and the optic nerves in your eyes. It can cause problems with vision, balance, muscle control, and other basic body functions.
The effects are often different for everyone who has the disease. Some people have mild symptoms and don’t need treatment. Others will have trouble getting around and doing daily tasks.
MS happens when your immune system attacks a fatty material called myelin, which wraps around your nerve fibers to protect them. Without this outer shell, your nerves become damaged. Scar tissue may form.
The damage means your brain can’t send signals through your body correctly. Your nerves also don’t work as they should to help you move and feel. As a result, you may have symptoms like:
Muscle weakness or spasms
Blurred or double vision
Numbness and tingling
Poor bladder or bowel control
Problems focusing or remembering
The first symptoms often start between ages 20 and 40. Most people with MS have attacks, also called relapses, when the condition gets noticeably worse. They’re usually followed by times of recovery when symptoms improve. For other people, the disease continues to get worse over time.
In recent years, scientists have found many new treatments that can often help prevent relapses and slow the disease’s effects.
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The cause of MS is still not even known. Scientists feel it’s a combination of things but it is still not identified as an actual reason hence no cure they believe it is broken into 4 causes.
Cause 1: Immunologic
MS is considered an immune-mediated disease. That is, the immune system malfunctions and attacks the CNS. Researchers know that the myelin sheath is directly affected, but they don’t know what triggers the immune system to attack the myelin.
Research about which immune cells are responsible for the attack is ongoing. Scientists are seeking to uncover what causes these cells to attack. They’re also searching for methods to control or stop the progression of the disease.
Cause 2: Genetic
Several genes are believed to play a role in MS. Your chance of developing MS is slightly higher if a close relative, such as a parent or sibling, has the disease.
According to the Multiple Sclerosis Foundation, if one parent has MS, the risk of their children getting the disease is estimated to be between 2 and 5 percent.
Scientists believe that people with MS are born with a genetic susceptibility to react to certain (unknown) environmental agents. An autoimmune response is triggered when they encounter these agents.
Cause 3: Environmental
Epidemiologists have seen an increased pattern of MS cases in countries located farthest from the equator. This correlation causes some to believe that vitamin D may play a role.
Vitamin D benefits the function of the immune system. People who live near the equator are exposed to more sunlight. As a result, their bodies produce more vitamin D.
The longer your skin is exposed to sunlight, the more your body naturally produces the vitamin. Since MS is considered an immune-mediated disease, vitamin D and sunlight exposure may be linked.
Cause 4: Infections
Researchers are considering the possibility that viruses and bacteria may cause MS. Viruses are known to cause inflammation and a breakdown of myelin (called demyelination). Therefore, it’s possible that a virus could trigger MS.
Several viruses and bacteria are being investigated to determine if they’re involved in the development of MS. These include:
human herpes virus-6 (HHV-6)
Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)
today I decided to be more informative. I hope that some one maybe learned something or understand more. Please donate to the cause. https://www.facebook.com/jamie.koralstarr/posts/10208478330128270