Multiple sclerosis, also known as MS, is a neurological condition that affects your brain and spinal cord. It is an autoimmune disease, which means your body starts to fight against healthy cells.
Your nerves have a covering over them called the myelin sheath, which protects them. In multiple sclerosis, your immune system launches an immune response against it, causing damage to them. The myelin sheath is damaged, and nerves remain unprotected, due to which they can not function well like that of healthy nerves. Nerve damage creates a variety of symptoms, which also make multiple sclerosis a difficult disease to diagnose. If anyone near you has the same condition, you should take them to the healthcare provider for a follow-up visit. For that, you can visit the best neurologist in Lahore.
Table of Contents
Symptoms
The signs and symptoms of multiple sclerosis are;
Trouble walking
Feeling tired
Depression
Blurred or double vision
Numbness and tingling
Sexual problems
Problems focusing or remembering
Muscle weakness or spas
Poor bladder or bowel control
Pain
Things to Know About Multiple Sclerosis
A Chronic Condition
Multiple sclerosis is a chronic lifelong condition. The life expectancy is not short with it. But the symptoms may keep coming and going. Most important thing is that you will have to learn the art to live with it. However, medications can help control symptoms. Also, lifestyle changes can help manage the condition.
Younger Adults and Women- More Diagnosed
Young adults and women are more diagnosed with multiple sclerosis than old-aged people and men. However, it can occur in them too. When multiple sclerosis is diagnosed in older adults, it is called late-onset MS. Moreover, it is difficult to diagnose multiple sclerosis in old aged people due to similar symptoms due to increasing age and other health conditions.
Difficult to Diagnose
Multiple sclerosis causes a variety of symptoms, therefore, it is difficult to diagnose. The healthcare providers may perform the following tests to diagnose it;
blood tests
spinal fluid analysis
optical coherence tomography (OCT)
neurological exams
magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
visual evoked potential (VEP) test
Many Symptoms
Multiple sclerosis has a variety of diverse symptoms. It does not have any classic or typical symptoms. Sometimes you may regain the lost function. Whereas sometimes, the symptoms may come and go. The symptoms are unpredictable because different nerves are attacked at different times.
Relapse and Remission of Symptoms
In multiple sclerosis, the relapsing symptoms may go into remission- a period when symptoms of the disease get better and stop showing up. However, this does not mean that you do not have multiple sclerosis. The disease is present there, but symptoms do not bother much. Taking medications can also help prevent developing new ones.
A Silent Disease
Multiple sclerosis is referred to as a silent disease. People having it may seem normal like other people, and it is hard to know about their illness. However, they may need special accommodations even they do not have any such mobility issues. Moreover, during the remission period, it may keep progressing silently- another reason for calling it a silent disease.
No Heat
People with multiple sclerosis may get an exacerbation of their symptoms when exposed to heat. Therefore it is best to keep cool. Their symptoms may show up upon exposure to;
Hot weather
Sun exposure
Fever
Hot steamy bath
Overheating from exercise
If you have multiple sclerosis, keep using an air conditioner and a fan to keep yourself cool. Also, avoid exposure to hot environments. You can use ice packs and wear light clothing so that heat does not cause symptoms exacerbation. Heat may cause exacerbation of symptoms, but it does not cause the disease progression.
Vitamin D Can be Helpful
According to new researches, vitamin D can serve as a protectant against MS. It may lead to fewer relapses in people already having the disease. Sunlight can help increase the production of vitamin D in your body, but it can also cause symptoms exacerbation. Therefore to get enough vitamin D, you can rely on other resources like;
Fortified milk
Orange juice
Certain breakfast cereals
Cod liver oil
Swordfish
Salmon
Tuna
Eggs
Outlook
Multiple sclerosis is a lifelong condition. You should keep attending your visits with the healthcare providers. And follow the treatment plan they have prescribed. If you have multiple sclerosis, you can visit the best neurologist in Islamabad.