The Complexities of Multiple Sclerosis
Multiple Sclerosis is classified as an autoimmune disease. Like other diseases in this category,the immune system attracts and destroys its own tissue, because it believes it is a virus.
With MS the attack occurs along the myelin sheath, the tissues that covers the spinal cord and nerve endings. This creates lessens which makes it difficult for the nerves to communicate with the brain. This lack of proper communication causes the variety of symptoms seen in people with MS.
Disease of Unknown Origin
Since there is such a variation with this disease, doctors are unsure why this disorder occurs. Some believe that genetics have a part in it, while others believe that infection or trauma caused it to occur.
Many believe that stress, fatigue, poor eating habits might play a role. Research does show that emotional stress, fatigue and anxiety will exacerbate the symptoms.
How Do Doctors Know?
A diagnosis is usually obtained by either evoked potential, Spinal tap, or MRI With evoked potential a doctor will stimulate and record the brain’s response to sound or sight stimulation With a spinal tap your doctors will take a small amount of fluid from the area around your spinal cord.
This liquid is then tested for white blood cells and antibodies. With an MRI a radiologist will take pictures of your brain and spinal column to determine presents of any abnormalities. He will also look for changes and lessons in these areas.
The Multiple Sclerosis Obstacles?
Since the destruction can take place anywhere along the myelin sheath, the symptoms vary greatly. So does the duration and the intensity.
Sometimes multiple sclerosis can cause a person to see double, or their vision might become blurry. Fortunately this symptom is temporary and suffers often find their vision restored once the inflammation’s decreased.
Occasionally a Person may slur their words, or they get out of breath when they talk. Their voice may be hoarse, nasally, or louder than normal. These could be indications that the person’s having difficulty breathing properly and should be seen by a doctor.
The suffer should also be seen by a doctor if they are having difficulty swallowing, because they can aspirate the food, or liquid into their lungs, causing them to have aspiration pneumonia.
Doctors also should check bone density often. Since people with MS are at a higher risk for bone loss. This is thought to be due from, improper nutritional and MS medicines.
People with MS might have bowel and bladder issues, depending on the placement of the lesson. Some of these could include incontinence, constipation and urinary retention. They are at a higher risk for urinary infections, and kidney infections.
Although it doesn’t leave a person infertile MS can decrease sexual stamina. This could be the result of other MS issues, for instance; pain stress, fatigue, depression. Since it directly affects nerve endings people with MS will often have pain tingling, numbness.
Their muscles could weaken and they might have difficulty with balance, and mobility. They may be extremely agitated, fatigued by the continuous pain.
Occasionally their eye hand coordination might be affected, making it difficult for them to eat and drink on their own. MS causes inflammation to the myelin sheath. This in turn can cause inflammation and swelling throughout their body, depending on where the lesson is positioned.
Medicine’s to the Rescue
Some of the most common medicines used are; Imuran, Tecfidera, Novantrone, Avonex, Tysabri, Mitoxantron, Cyclophosphamide,Betaseron, Copaxone, Extavia. CellceptGilenya, AubagiomMethotrexate, and Rebif. These medicines are used to reduce the symptoms and prevents any further damage from occurring.
Additional Boosts
There are supplements that seem to lessen the severity of the symptoms some of them include; Vitamin D, N acetyl, multivitamin, COQ10. Calcium, L-theanine, zinc, Acetyl-L, Omega 6, Omega 3, and magnesium.
Mother Nature’s Cure
If you are into all natural products here are a few suggestions; probiotics, Chinese hemp seed, green tea,Turmeric, Echinacea, wood betony, bilberry leaf, ginkgo,selenium, oat seed, Rhodiolaand ginger. Please check with your doctor, or pharmacist to see if there might be any adverse reactions to the medicines you are taking.
We are what we eat
Eating healthy has shown to improve symptoms among multiple sclerosis patients. According to the food chart, this is what you should eat from each of the food. You should have 4 servings of fruits and vegetables each day.
This is approximately 2 cups of fruits and 2 cups of vegetables a day. When it comes to whole grains doctors suggest you eat 8 servings a day, 4 cups.
For other snack choices you can chose nuts, seeds or legumes. Since you need 5 servings of these a day. You need to have 3 cups of dairy. If you don’t like the taste of milk, almond, or soy is a good alternative. In fact almond milk has more calcium than dairy milk. Lastly meats. The best kind is lean meats and fish.
Since MS affects the nervous system it’s advised to stay away from stimulants like tobacco, alcohol, caffeine and aspartame. Processed foods, foods that contain Trans and saturated fats, preservatives, additives increase inflammation, which increases swelling and pain.
This includes processed foods, crackers, cookies and store bought baked goods. Regular cooking oil contains a lot of saturated fat.
So it’s advised to stick with canola, olive, or coconut oil, It’s also thought that sugar, flour and yeast increases inflammation. Tomatoes, potatoes and eggplant are thought to increase inflammation.
Test Your Memory
Multiple sclerosis is an autoimmune disease whose cause remains unknown. We do know that it attracts the myelin sheath which caused a miscommunication between the brain and the rest of the body.
This lack of proper electrical impulses creates numerous symptoms. Some are intermittent while others are permanents.
Studies conclude that Multiple sclerosis causes inflammation of the myelin sheath, which can create inflammation, pain and swelling in other areas of the body. The area depends on the location of the lessens.
