Multiple Sclerosis

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a long-term condition that affects the Central Nervous System (CNS). The CNS consists of the brain, spinal cord, and the optic nerve. Myelin, a fatty substance rich in protein and liquid, is the tissue that surrounds and protects the nerve fibers of the CNS. When MS occurs, Myelin is decreased and lost in certain areas, leaving scar tissue that can damage and destroy the nerve tissue. This process distorts the function of nerves that send electrical impulses to the brain.

How or what triggers MS?

Though there is not a specific defect that causes MS, scientists have different theories that are seen as a gateway for this disease.

  • An autoimmune disease is a disorder that affects the body’s immune system. Instead of attacking bacteria, viruses, and other foreign invaders, the body attacks its own tissue. One of these tissues is Myelin.
  • Genetics is considered to be a factor for the presence of MS. While the average person in the U.S. has a 1 in 750 chance in developing MS, a child of a person with MS has a 1 in 40 chance. No single gene is considered to cause the disease, but a genetic vulnerability exposed to a particular virus can triggers an autoimmune attack, ultimately causing MS.

Symptoms of MS

  • Speech difficulty
  • Problems with bladder and bowels
  • Loss of memory
  • Muscle weakness and/or painful muscle spasms
  • Fatigue
  • Numbness or “pins and needles”
  • Erectile dysfunction in men

MS is a disease that affects more than 40,000 people in the United States and 2.5 million people worldwide. It is usually diagnosed in people between the ages of 20 and 40, and is commonly found in more woman than men.

There is no cure for MS but there are drugs that can help reduce individual symptoms of disease. The treatments are not a contribution to the cure but only help alleviate pain or discomfort that a person may experience.

It is highly recommended that a person gets a lot of exercise, to help keep the joints loose and muscles toned, and improve their eating habits with a balance diet of fresh fruit and vegetables.

Devon Health Services, Inc., the Northeast’s most extensive Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) and National Healthcare Cost Management Company, possesses an extensive network of doctors that can provide medical advice and treatment for this condition.

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