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Types And Environmental Factors Of Multiple Sclerosis

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Multiple Sclerosis also known by the abbreviations (MS) has been known as a devastating disease in which its name literally means many scars. This chronic disease attacks the central nervous system, meaning it affects the brain and the spinal cord and is known as an autoimmune disease. MS happens when your immune system attacks myelin, which is a fatty material that is wrapped around nerve fibers to protect them. Without this outset shell, the nerves become damaged in which scar tissue may form. This damage can produce the brain not to be able to send signals throughout the body to work correctly. In 2007, the World Health Organization (WHO) has estimated that approximately 2.5 million people have MS and over 350,000 people have MS in the …show more content…

A couple of environmental factors that are taken into account are vitamin D exposure and smoking. It is thought that vitamin D supports the immune function and may help protect against immune-mediated diseases like MS. There is also evidence that has shown that smoking increases a person’s risk of developing MS and is associated with other diseases. It is also important to note that there are four different disease courses that have been identified in multiple sclerosis. Although nerve damage is always involved with MS, the pattern is unique for each individual. The four different types of Multiple Sclerosis include Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis (RRMS), Primary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis (PPMS), Secondary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis (SPMS), and Progressive Relapsing Multiple Sclerosis (PRMS). The most common disease course is RRMS. This is characterized by distinct attacks of deteriorating neurological function. These attacks or also known as relapses, flare-ups or exacerbation are followed by partial or complete recovery periods in which symptoms will then improve partially or completely and there is no apparent progression of the disease. There are approximately 85 percent of people with MS who are initially diagnosed with RRMS and most people with this type will experience symptoms in their early 20s. The second type is PPMS, which is characterized by steadily deteriorating neurological function from the beginning. There

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