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Multiple Sclerosis Essay examples

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Most illnesses are unexpected and can lead to life changes. A chronic illness can lead to a life altering illness. While some chronic illnesses can be cured in a few weeks or months many last a lifetime. Chronic illnesses typically have a significant impact on clients, like treatments, coping, and dealing with possible side effects. When the chronic illness progresses to death then the illness would be life altering. According to webmd.com Multiple Sclerosis or MS is a disease that affects the brain and spinal cord resulting in loss of muscle control, vision, balance, and sensation. I chose Multiple Sclerosis because it can affect daily activities and can have a negative impact on the person’s well-being (Tamper & Lindh 197-199) Learning …show more content…

What causes MS is unknown; Scientists believe there are several factors that cause MS including immunologic, environmental, infectious, and genetic. MS is 2 to 3 times more common in women than men. MS is not inherited but genetics plays an important role in who gets the disease. While most people are diagnosed between the ages of 20 and 50, young children and teenagers may develop this life altering illness. MS is more common in northern latitudes that are further from the equator and less common in areas closer to the equator however, known in all parts of the world. MS occurs in most ethnic groups, including African Americans, Asians, and Hispanics/Latinos, but are more common in Caucasians of the northern European ancestry (“What is Multiple Sclerosis”). According to Margret Vickers the Sociologists have been concerned about the inequality of patients that have a chronic to life altering disease especially at work. A person with a disability is categorized as being other, different, and outside the norm, faces obstacles of trying to fit in to the working environment. Furthermore, employees who don’t possess the physical, emotional or cognitive attributes that others present maybe stigmatized or discredited. The workplace remains difficult for people with a life altering illness to negotiate and be secure furthermore employment has actually decreased worldwide.

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