What is Multiple Sclerosis and How far it is Fatal for Your Life?

What do you mean by the term “Multiple Sclerosis”?

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a lifelong disease that can affect the brain, spinal cord, and the optical nerves in the eyes. It can cause difficulties with vision, balance, muscle control, and other basic body functions. This happens when a fatty material called myelin is being attacked by the immune system, which wraps around the nerve fibres to protect them. Without this outer shell, the nerves get damaged which may result in the formation of scar tissue.

Common Symptoms of Multiple Sclerosis

The effects are mostly different for everyone who has the disease. Some people have mild symptoms hence, they don’t require treatment. Others might have trouble getting around and doing daily chores. However, it usually starts with mild symptoms that may or may not get worse over time. Symptoms generally depend on which part of the central nervous system is being affected and how much damage has been caused. The most common symptoms of Multiple Sclerosis include:

· Trouble walking

· Feeling tired

· Muscle weakness or spasms

· Blurred or double vision

· Numbness and tingling

· Sexual problems

· Poor bladder or bowel control

· Pain

· Depression

· Problems focusing or remembering

The initial symptoms often start between ages 20–40 years. Most people with this disease have attacks, also know relapses, when the condition gets noticeably worse. They’re usually followed by times of recovery when symptoms improve. For other patients, the disease continues to get worse as time progress.

Types of Multiple Sclerosis

· Relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS): This is the most common form of MS and about 3 in every 4 people with MS begin with a relapsing-remitting stage.

· Primary progressive MS (PPMS): 1 or 2 people in every 10 with MS are diagnosed with PPMS. These people usually find that their symptoms become gradually worse, with no separate attacks.

· Secondary progressive MS (SPMS): Most people with RRMS will eventually experience SPMS. In this form, disability generally worsens gradually, free of any relapses.

· Progressive-Relapsing MS (PRMS): This is the rarest kind of MS which occurs to only 5% patients approximately. Very similar to primary progressive MS, this condition is characterised by steadily worsening disease state from the beginning, with acute relapses but no remissions, with or without recovery.

Progression of Multiple Sclerosis

Approximately 85% of patients begin the disease with relapsing-remitting MS. These patients experience episodic relapses (sometimes called flares, attacks or exacerbations). They may experience the onset of symptoms over a few days or weeks, with gradual recovery that can be complete or incomplete.

Over time, some patients will experience “progression,” less inflammatory changes and more of a slow, progressive worsening of multiple symptoms and disability. This is classified as secondary-progressive MS. Over time there can also be a decrease in brain volume.

Approximately 15% of patients never have relapses. Their disease is characterized by an increase of symptoms over time. This stage is known as primary-progressive MS.

Causes and Risk Factors of Multiple Sclerosis

The cause of MS is yet unknown — no one knows what set off the immune reaction that leads to MS lesions in the first place. But it is believed that some combination of genetic weakness and environmental causes is necessary to trigger the disease.

Some researchers suspect the immune attack is triggered by certain kinds of viral infections. Cigarette smoking is also known to increase the risk of developing MS.

Most patients who are diagnosed with MS have no known risk factors. Although having a family history of MS raises the risk somewhat, it is not considered to be a genetic or hereditary disease.

Life Expectancy

Life expectancy for people with MS is about 7.5 years shorter than expected. The good news is, life expectancy in those with MS is increasing. It is very difficult to predict how MS will progress in any one person.

Around 10% to 15% of people with MS have only rare attacks and minimal disability 10 years after diagnosis. It’s generally presumed they’re not on treatment or injectables. This is sometimes called benign MS.

With the development of disease-modifying therapies (DMTs), studies show promising results that the progression of the disease can be slowed.

Treatments for Multiple Sclerosis

Medicines for MS are used to ease symptoms as well as to delay the progression of the disease and reduce the risk of relapses. The best medicine for you depends on the type of MS you have.

Medicines called immunomodulators and immunosuppressants can slow the progression of MS and reduce the occurrence of attacks by specifically targeting the immune process. However, these treatments do not reverse current symptoms and there can be substantial side effects. These medicines are generally used for people with relapsing-remitting MS.

Steroids can reduce the severity of MS attack by reducing inflammation and subduing the immune system. Medicines to suppress the immune system are occasionally used for people with progressive MS.

Controlling the symptoms of Multiple Sclerosis

Best neurologist in Delhi NCR — Dr P N Renjen suggests regular exercise, physiotherapy and occupational therapy to reduce the symptoms. A well-balanced diet which is low in fat and high in fibre can also help to control the symptoms of MS. Regular exercise can strengthen muscles, improve heart health and improve mood.