Why we jump:
The Basics of Multiple Sclerosis Top 5 "MS Words"
you probably don't know: #1: Exacerbation
The appearance of new symptoms or the aggravation of old ones, lasting at least twenty-four hours (synonymous with attack,
relapse, flare-up, or worsening); usually associated with inflammation and demyelination in the brain or spinal cord.
#2: Interferon
A group of immune system proteins, produced and released by cells
infected by a virus, which inhibit viral multiplication and modify the body’s immune response. Three interferon beta
medications have been approved by the FDA for treating relapsing forms of MS: Betaseron®, Avonex® and Rebif®.
#3: Optic neuritis
Inflammation or demyelination of the optic
(visual) nerve with transient or permanent impairment of vision and occasionally pain.
#4: Myelin
A soft, white coating of nerve fibers in the central nervous system, composed of lipids (fats) and protein. Myelin serves
as insulation and as an aid to efficient nerve fiber conduction. When myelin is damaged in MS, nerve fiber conduction is faulty
or absent. Impaired bodily functions or altered sensations associated with those demyelinated nerve fibers are identified
as symptoms of MS in various parts of the body.
#5: Sclerosis
Hardening of
tissue. In MS, sclerosis is the body’s replacement of lost myelin around CNS nerve cells with scar tissue.
 |
|
Understanding MS
Top 5 questions we get asked: Question 1:
What
is multiple sclerosis?
Multiple sclerosis is an unpredictable neurological disease that affects an estimated
400,000 people in the United States . A new case is diagnosed every hour. It can cause blurred vision, loss of balance, poor
coordination, slurred speech, tremors, numbness, extreme fatigue and even paralysis and blindness. These problems might be
permanent, or they might come and go. Question
2:
Who gets MS?
Three-quarters of those who have MS are women, with the onset of symptoms occurring in
the prime of life years, ages 20 - 50, though there are an estimated 8-10,000 children under the age of 18 who also have MS.
Studies indicate that genetic factors may make certain individuals more susceptible to the disease, but there is no evidence
that MS is directly inherited. It occurs more commonly among Caucasians, especially those of northern European ancestry, but
people of African, Asian and Hispanic backgrounds are not immune. Question 3:
What are the typical
symptoms of MS?
Symptoms of MS are
unpredictable and vary greatly from person to person and from time to time in the same person. For instance: one person may
experience abnormal fatigue, another might have severe vision problems or another could develop attention and memory issues.
Even severe symptoms may disappear completely and the person will regain lost functions. In the worst cases, however, people
can have partial or complete paralysis. Question 4:
What causes these symptoms?
In MS, symptoms result when inflammation and breakdown occur in
myelin, the protective insulation surrounding the nerve fibers of the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord). The
nerve fibers themselves are also damaged. Myelin is destroyed and replaced by scars of hardened "sclerotic" patches
of tissue. Such lesions are called "plaques," and appear in "multiple" places within the central nervous
system. This can be compared to a loss of insulating material around an electrical wire, which interferes with the transmission
of signals.
Question 5:
Can MS be cured?
Not yet. However, advances in treating and understanding MS are being achieved daily and
the progress in research to find a cure is very encouraging. In addition, many therapeutic and technological advances are
helping people manage symptoms and lead more productive lives. There are now several FDA-approved medications that have been
shown to affect the underlying course of MS.
|
