WRAP YOUR BRAIN AROUND MS

Because symptoms of multiple sclerosis are so unique, they are often overlooked. Here are some important facts to understand about MS.

THE FOUR TYPES

MS can manifest in four different ways, according to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. Clinically isolated syndrome, or CIS, is diagnosed when a patient experiences a period of MS symptoms for under 24 hours. Not everyone with CIS will go on to develop MS. Relapsingremitting MS (RRMS), the most common diagnosis, is characterized by spurts of MS symptoms that can ebb and flow but routinely return. Secondary progressive MS is diagnosed when RRMS symptoms linger and steadily worsen. Lastly, primary progressive MS (PPMS) is characterized by the continual worsening of neurological function with persistent symptoms.

Know The Red Flags

About 42% of multiple sclerosis patients are initially misdiagnosed, according to the Integrated Neurology Services, PPLC. The most common telltale sign of MS is fatigue. Experiencing fatigue — along with numbness, tingling sensations, muscle weakness or trouble with vision — are all common early manifestations. There is no single test to confirm

WHAT’S IN A NAME

The Multiple Sclerosis Trust says sclerosis refers to the nerve damage caused by MS. In MS, the protective outer coating of nerves, the myelin sheath, is attacked by the immune system. Loss of the myelin sheath leaves the nerves highly susceptible to trauma and destruction. The illness is known as multiple sclerosis because the sclerosis can occur anywhere in the body, specifically in the brain and spinal cord.

institute Sanford Burnham Prebys, MS is the most common neurological disease in young adults. MS symptoms typically appear between the ages of 20 and 40. Although genetic susceptibility to the disease exists, MS is not hereditary or contagious.