Multiple Sclerosis Essay example

Doctors utilize primarily a “differential diagnosis” with multiple sclerosis in which other diseases are tested to be ruled out before making the MS diagnosis. These tests may include blood panels, lumbar puncture (spinal tap) and MRI. Genetic counseling is also available because of the higher likelihood of parental diagnosis (Multiple). The total number of people worldwide with multiple sclerosis is 2.5 million, 400,000 of which come from within the United States (MS). Multiple sclerosis is typically diagnosed in the early 20s and the percentage of cases diagnosed after age 50 is only 10% (Statistic). MS is almost never fatal, the percentage of people who survive 20+ years after diagnosis is nearly 80%, with the average lifetime cost of treatment at 1.2 million dollars

Multiple Sclerosis affects 2.3 million people worldwide. Multiple Sclerosis patients diagnosed are in the age range of twenty to fifty. Multiple Sclerosis effects the myelin in the central nervous system that disrupts the flow of information that is sent to the brain. This disruption effects your vision, mobility and bodily functions. Multiple Sclerosis has a wide variety of people it can effect. Your age, sex, where you grew up and even certain infections like Mono. There are a few tests that can be done to find out if you have Multiple Sclerosis, such as; MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) this is not the only test but it is a huge

MS is characterized by the destruction of myelin, inflammation in the CNS and the formation of lesions in the CNS.

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a chronic inflammatory disease of the central nervous system. MS affects approximately 3.0 million people globally, with about 300,000 cases in the United States. Twice as many women as men have MS. The average ages for onset of MS is 20-40 years. In MS, cells in the immune system attack and destroy myelin, the fatty tissue surrounding nerve cells (http://www.phylomed.com/MS.html). Scar tissue replaces the myelin, interfering with the transmission of nerve signals and leading to numbness, fatigue, spasticity, loss of muscle control, and various other debilitating symptoms. There are four broad theories

     Anyone can develop MS, but many patients share the following characteristics. The majority experiences their first symptoms between ages 20 and 40. Caucasians are more than twice as likely as other races to develop MS. MS is two to three times more common in women as in men.

Having the disease multiple sclerosis can affect one's life tremendously. In the essay, "On Being A Cripple", the author Nancy Mairs suffers from the disease and has a love-hate relationship with it. Socially, it appears that although Mairs has the disease, she accepts it and does normal things like going on vacations with her family. However, personally, it's hard for her at times and she gets into a depressed state and wishes she didn't have the disease when she has a falling or an incident. Multiple Sclerosis, also referred to as “MS”, is a disease that can affect one's brain, spinal cord, and eyes.

Multiple Sclerosis is a disease that attacks the myelin coating over the nerve receptors in your brain and spinal cord. Myelin is a fatty material that coats and protects the nerves in your brain. These nerves send signals to the rest of your body enabling

The most common Multiple Sclerosis symptoms are Fatigue, Numbness or Tingling, Dizziness, Slurred speech, Bladder problems, Bowel problems, Emotional changes, Cognitive changes, and Walking difficulties. It usually begin over a several days, but may also develop more slowly. MS can be mild or severe and may go away quickly or last for months. The disease is common to return, but it may get worse without periods of remission. Any Nerves that is part of the brain or the spinal cord can be damaged. Due to this, symptoms of MS may appear in any regions of the body. approximately 60 to 70% of people who has relapsing-remitting MS develops a steady progression of symptoms, with or without periods of

Multiple Sclerosis, commonly known as MS is an autoimmune disease of the central nervous system. Scientists have been studying MS since the 19th century. In MS, the body’s immune system produces cells and antibodies that attack myelin in your brain which is essential for the nerves in your brain and spinal cord to conduct electricity to perform its function. The attack on myelin results in vison loss, paralysis, numbness, muscle weakness, difficulty walking, stiffness, spasms, and bladder and bowel problems. MS has varying degrees of severity and affects people between the ages of 20-50, mostly women. Although there are treatments, there is no cause and cure yet.

The four subtypes are progressive relapsing MS (PRMS), secondary progressive MS (SPMS), primary progressive MS (PPMS), and relapsing/ remitting MS (RRMS). RRMS is the most common type and can be broken up more to active or not active as well as worsening or not worsening. It is said that 85% of patients diagnosed with RRMS will eventually move on to SPMS. There needs to be a complete neurological exam and medical history before someone can be labeled with the disease. There is not a clear cut test for MS but there are other tests that can be completed to rule out other conditions that have similar signs and symptoms of MS. Such tests include a MRI, blood test, or looking at the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) after obtaining it from a spinal tap. The blood test is used to check for other diseases. With the MRI of the head and spine, there should be a presence of plaques. These plaques can cause lesions in the affected

To scientists, this suggests that exposure to some environmental agent before puberty may cause a predisposition for MS later on in life. There is also evidence that suggests that vitamin D may play a role. This could explain the previous statement that MS occurs more frequently farther from the equator, since that area frequently receives more sunlight which aids in the synthesis of Vitamin D. This possibility is now being studied by a society-funded epidemiological study in Australia [2]. There is also the possibility that a virus earlier on in life may cause, or trigger, MS. Viruses are known to cause inflammation and a breakdown of myelin, so it is possible that a virus that breakdowns myelin may trigger MS. Viruses currently being researched are measles, Human Herpes Virus-6, and Epstein-Barr [3]. Genetically, several different genes are believed to have a role in MS. According the Multiple Sclerosis Foundation, if one parent has Multiple Sclerosis, the risk of their child or children getting the same disease is approximately two to five percent [3].

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is autoimmune, inflammatory disease involving the central nervous system (CNS). This disease is a result of the immune system attacking myelin proteins. Usually affecting younger people between the ages of 20 and 50 years, multiple sclerosis slowly destroys the myelin sheath that are located in the CNS causing them to eventually create scleroses, or hardened lesions. Symptoms of multiple sclerosis can be different, but visual, sensory, and motor signs are usually affected with this disease. Some early symptoms care problems like blurred or double vision, numbness, loss of balance, and weakness in arms or legs, as well as fatigue, muscle spasms, speech problems. Approximately 400,000 people in the United States and 2.5 million people worldwide are affected by multiple sclerosis (Hersh and Fox, 2014). Educating ones self about multiple sclerosis is important because it has many unanswered questions. There are many theories and treatments that may seem like they work, but there is no cure or definite reason why MS happens. Multiple sclerosis is also a disease that affects many people and is very hard to treat.

Visual examinations may also be used to help diagnosed a patient with MS by observing if the patient has a decreased in visual acuity, changes in visual field, and rapid eye movements (PubMed Health, 2013).

Genetic causes: multiple sclerosis is not a hereditary disease in the strict sense of the word, but to have a first degree relative, such as a parent or sibling, with the disease, increases an individual's risk of developing it, making many times higher than that of the population

Look around, chances are you or someone in the room either has or knows someone with multiple sclerosis. However, you probably would not be able to tell just by looking at someone if they have MS and that is arguably one of the most frustrating effects of MS. In fact there are a lot of frustrations related to this disease, it affects every patient differently, it is difficult to diagnose, symptoms are merely managed, it is unpredictable and life altering for those with it and for those that care for them. It is estimated that over two and a half million people worldwide are affected by MS. Two hundred new diagnosis are reported every week in the United States alone, and the numbers of cases are likely much higher than