What is Multiple Sclerosis?

About Multiple Sclerosis

• It is a long-lasting (chronic) disease of the central nervous system.
• In people with MS, the immune system attacks cells in the myelin, the protective sheath that surrounds nerves in the brain and spinal cord.
• Damage to the myelin sheath interrupts nerve signals from your brain to other parts of your body. The damage can lead to symptoms affecting your brain, spinal cord, and eyes.
• Eventually, the disease can cause permanent damage or deterioration of the nerve fibers.
• MS affects women more than men. The disorder is most commonly diagnosed between ages 20 to 40, but it can be seen at any age.
• There are many possible causes of MS, including:
  • Autoimmune disorders;
  • Infectious agents, such as viruses;
  • Environmental factors;
  • Genetic factors;
• Signs and symptoms:
  • It varies widely between patients and depends on the location and severity of nerve fiber damage in the central nervous system.
  • Some people have mild symptoms, such as blurred vision, and numbness, and tingling in the limbs.
  • In severe cases, a person may experience paralysis, vision loss, and mobility problems.
• Treatment: There's no cure for multiple sclerosis. However, there are treatments to help speed the recovery from attacks, modify the course of the disease, and manage symptoms.

Q1) What is the central nervous system?

The central nervous system consists of the brain and spinal cord. The central nervous system controls thought, movement, and emotion, as well as breathing, heart rate, hormones, and body temperature.

Source: Depression, constipation, and urinary tract infections may precede MS diagnosis