Multiple Sclerosis In A Nutshell

Disseminated Sclerosis, more popularly known as Multiple Sclerosis, is the disease of the Central Nervous System (the main component of which is the brain and the spinal cord). It is widely accepted as an autoimmune disease, a result of the body attacking its own structures, wherein the cells of the body and the immune system and its chemicals which were supposed to protect the body against invasion of disease-causing components attack the myelin sheath or the covering of the never cells instead. Thus causing damage or demyelination, scars or sclerosis and inflammation.

Although multiple sclerosis affects men, women are at higher risks of developing this autoimmune disease, making them 2 to 3 times more likely to develop the condition. It is typically found among people aged 20 to 50 years old.

The myelin sheath that is largely affected by this disease is the protective insulation of the neurons. Without this, it would be quite impossible for the neurons to transmit nerve impulses between each other. Thus, patients of multiple sclerosis suffer from phlegmatic transference of nerve signals which make them somewhat incapable of responding to external and internal stimuli, somewhat unable to interpret sensations correctly and their body movements become less coordinated. Like damages to electrical wires, multiple sclerosis prevents the fast delivery of brain signals to all parts of the body.

No one is certain what causes this disease. What is only known is that it is a product of an abnormal immune system response which turns out to be harmful to the protective coating of the neurons. Theories such as a triggering illness, virus or other agents during childhood are being tested though.

Diagnoses to determine the presence of the disease are not conclusive though they may show strong indications of the presence of multiple sclerosis. Tests such as MRI and analysis of the cerebral fluids may potentially establish the onset of the disease. The best thing physicians and specialists can do is to rule out other conditions that may evoke the same symptoms.

Demyelination may happen at any time, to any part of the brain and the spinal cord with no known reason. The location of the damage determines what symptoms will manifest and how severe the symptoms will be. Thus, making each episode or relapse different from one person to another and from one occasion to another. There are common symptoms though which include fatigue, severe headache, weakness and numbness of the extremities, loss of balance, lack of coordination, visual problems, incontinence due to loss of bladder control, loss of bowel movement control, depression and other severe emotional conditions, difficulty of speaking, and minor and severe cognitive problems. The combination of these symptoms differs on which parts of the brain or the spinal cord are damaged and how severe the damage is.

While multiple sclerosis can advance to more aggravated stages where functions are seriously debilitated, it is, nevertheless, neither fatal nor contagious. Though many deaths have been associated with the diseases due, in part, to its capacity to lessen life expectancy.

Healing after a relapse may occur. However since damages to the myelin sheath are permanent, there is a high possibility that the effects of such damages are permanent. There is very small chance of reverting to the pre-onset conditions even with medications and therapies. There are currently no available cures for this disease though symptom-control treatments can be availed to provide short-term relief. On-going clinical trials and research are yet to bring new lights to the nature of the disease and treatments.

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Edward Pena is a successful network marketer that owns his own company and helps mentor people to be successful in mlm. To take advantage of his free advice, go to: MLMSuccess

Pediatric Multiple Sclerosis: MS In Children

It is, perhaps, the saddest thing if a young, innocent child is struck with a chronic condition that has no cure. This is especially painful for parents of such children. The disease progresses but there is nothing much anyone can do about it. While pediatric multiple sclerosis is relatively rare, there are still a lot of very young people who are suffering from this condition.

Introduction
Historically, MS is an adult-onset condition. Although it is very uncommon for children to develop this disease, recent statistics revealed that sufferers are increasing in numbers. According to one study in Canada, there is at least .9 incidence in every 100, 000 children. The youngest possible patient who showed initial symptoms of MS was 13 months old and the youngest diagnosis ever made was on a child aged 2 years old. In a retrospective study conducted in the United States, it was found out that 2%-5% of MS patients were diagnosed before they were 16 years old.

Incidence
Like in adult population, there seems to be a gender imbalance in childhood MS. Hence, boys are less susceptible than girls against the risk of developing the condition and the onset of the symptoms.

Clinical Features
The onset of pediatric multiple sclerosis is somewhat similar with the adult patients. This is characterized by demyelination of the "white matter" of the CNS as well as episodes of neurological dysfunctions.

Symptoms
Symptoms of MS are categorized into the following: cognitive dysfunctions, motor impairments, sensory symptoms, sexual functions deficit, problems with balance and coordination and bladder and bowel problems. Having said that, the common symptoms of MS include fatigue, numbness, paresthesias, troubled thinking, weakness of the extremities, spasticity or rigidity of the limbs, bladder impairment, speech impairment, tremors, pain and burning pain, seizures, depression, and Paroxysmal symptoms. These symptoms may or may not manifest in all patients and may come in varying severity.

Unfortunately, these symptoms inhibit children sufferers from performing well in normal situations. They fare worst in academics due to some cognitive dysfunctions.

Diagnosis
No specific guideline for diagnosing MS in children is available. Thus, neurologists utilize the parameters used among older patients such as RMI, analysis of brain fluids and out ruling of other possible conditions. Most neurologists, pediatricians and physicians rely on ruling out other conditions as the primary diagnostic tool. Once all other diseases that produce the same symptoms are ruled out, diagnosis may be given. On some occasions when there is a somewhat unclear manifestation of the symptoms or the presentation of characteristics being looked for is somewhat suggestive of just the "possibility" of the condition being present, the physician may opt to wait for further developments. 

Treatment
Due to the similarity of symptoms and lack of sufficient technologies to treat and cure MS, treatments for children patients are somewhat identical with methods used among the older patients. On top of the conventional treatment methods, there are four types of injectable medications which help in modifying the condition. These drugs are typically used on a regular basis.

Recovery
Remission or recovery in children, however, is reported as being well. This is partially because they have an attitude that does not worry much about their disease and in their lives, unlike adult sufferers. Also, they tend to have carefree dispositions that are not totally affected by the relapse of Multiple Sclerosis symptoms as well as the progression of the condition.

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Edward Pena is a successful network marketer that owns his own company and helps mentor people to be successful in mlm. To take advantage of his free advice, go to: MLMSuccess

Tips On Handling Multiple Sclerosis

With Multiple Sclerosis, there will be days when you are feeling quite well and there are days when you are not feeling okay. There will be bouts of symptoms which may occur at anytime of the day, several days at a time during when these symptoms may not feel the same as they were yesterday. They may be much worse or they may be totally different. To help you cope with the irregular changes in the symptoms and their severity, we have prepared the following tips:

Practice deep breathing – Sometimes the only relief you will get is the ability to control your breathing. So try doing deep breathing. Fill in your lungs with as much air as you could and slowly exhale.

Improve your strength – If your body allows it, do some strength training. Though the fatigue you are experiencing roots from neural dysfunction, it would still help to augment your sometimes incapacitated body with building some lean muscles.

Avail some counseling – Whether it's over the phone or face-to-face, counseling still works well in providing emotional and psychological assistance to the patient. Sometimes, these are the only things that can relieve the sufferer from the physiological and psychological tolls of multiple sclerosis.

Do some creative visualization – A number of MS patients do this and many of them agree that it can help. Creative visualization is the process of creating mental images that may elicit various sensations. A good exercise is to imagine that you are bound by something, say rubber bands. One by one, try to mentally visualize that you are removing these bands from yourself. Be sure to incorporate and be sensitive to the sensations associated with this exercise.

Address your physical problems with physical therapy – Try improving your balance, the pain you experience, your body's lack of coordination, the weakness of your limbs, and your muscular spasms through the help of a physical therapist. 

Don’t rely on a wheelchair – As much as possible, refrain from using aids such as crutches and wheelchairs. For most patients, these are unnecessary; it should be the same for you. Instead, allow your legs, hips and lower back to develop strength.

Inquire about steroids – If your symptoms include blurriness or pain in the eyes, ask your doctor about steroids. These should help relieve the discomforts.

Try the alternatives – Consider alternative medicines and treatments. These may not be backed by scientific studies, nonetheless, there are anecdotal evidences that they work in the management of this condition and its symptoms.

Seek the help of your counselor concerning your home/place of work – There should be no second guessing on this. Your home or workplace must be safe for you at all times. Seek a counselor to give you guidance. 

Seek help- There are pharmaceutical companies, support groups and organizations that can help you with respect to your treatments. There are also organizations that provide financial help. Do not hesitate to approach them.

Frustrated and stressed out? – There are stress management techniques and stress therapies available at your disposal. Sometimes, they do not cost a penny. Try to incorporate them in your treatment options.

Exercise – Keeping an active body may divert your attention from the pain.

There is so much you can do with your condition so there is no reason for you to give in to suffering. Seek your options, now. There are many natural alternatives to helping you cope with Multiple Sclerosis.

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Edward Pena is a successful network marketer that owns his own company and helps mentor people to be successful in mlm. To take advantage of his free advice, go to: MLMSuccess

Multiple Sclerosis Treatments And Therapies

While it is true that there is currently no permanent relief from multiple sclerosis, there are, however, varieties of treatments and therapies that go beyond conventional medicine. In this article, we would look at the treatment options as well as complementary and alternative treatments that are commonly advised by physicians.

Drug Treatments
There are specific drugs and medications for each type of multiple sclerosis. However, usually, one drug may be prescribed for Secondary Progressive MS may be prescribed for Relapsing/Remitting MS. For reference, here are the general categories of medications for MS:
Commonly prescribed drugs such as Interferon Beta 1a and 1b, and Glatiramer Acetate
Chemotherapeutic Agents
Corticosteroids & ACTH or Adrenocorticotropic Hormone
Medications for altered sensations
Pain relievers
Medications for treating depression, insomnia and anxiety
Medications for fatigue
Medications for urinary and other bladder-related dysfunctions
Drugs for bowel-related problems
Drugs for sexual dysfunctions
Medications for tremors, tics, spasticity and clonus
Vaccinations and anti-virals
Drugs for vertigo

Experimental drug treatments such as Eliprodil and Diaminopyridine are mainly focused on improving the transmission of nerve signals from one neuron to another. Other experimental drugs aim to prevent the spread of viral infections.

Complementary Therapies
These therapies are normally inclusive of popular alternative therapies that are also commonly used for other diseases and disorders. Because many of such conditions are not yet fully understood and therefore lack appropriate treatments and cures, the scientific community presents other options within the non-conventional paradigm. Among these therapies are herbal remedies, acupuncture, yoga, aromatherapy, emotional healing, reflexology, meditation, chiropractic treatments, Pilates, hypnotherapy, homeopathy, use of antioxidants, and others. Many patients of multiple sclerosis find relief through these therapies which make them very likely choices as treatments. While they may not totally remove the symptoms or prevent them from relapsing, these treatment options, however, can relieve the patient from the pains and discomforts brought about by the symptoms.

Counseling, Telephone Counseling
Parts of a patient's treatment are the face-to-face counseling and counseling over the phone or telephone counseling. These are commonly known as talk therapies. The main goal here is to provide emotional and psychological support for the sufferer. What's good about these treatments is that the counselor fully understands the condition and may add considerably in the patient's capacity to handle his disease.

Treatment against fatigue
Fatigue is commonly experienced by patients of multiple sclerosis, no matter what the type or how severe is the form. Thus, patients are encouraged to conquer this by doing some remedies such as proper dieting, conservation of energy, participating in regular workouts, and stress management.


Supplements
There are basically a few categories of supplements that may prove effective against multiple sclerosis and its symptoms. They are the vitamins A, B, C, D and E, trace minerals magnesium, manganese, zinc, copper, selenium and calcium, and oils such as fish oil, flax oil and EPO.

The aforementioned treatment methodologies are evidence enough that there are varieties of treatment options presented for individuals suffering from this condition. As there is currently no concrete knowledge on how to attack against the disease, the effectiveness of these modalities are uncertain. They are reassurances at best.

To fully maximize the treatments, one should seek the help of a professional who is knowledgeable in this field. It is advised that patients of multiple sclerosis undergo treatments as necessary.





Edward Pena is a successful network marketer that owns his own company and helps mentor people to be successful in mlm. To take advantage of his free advice, go to: MLMSuccess

Multiple Sclerosis Diagnosis

Multiple sclerosis is a very frustrating condition. With the current lack of diagnostic procedures, tests and examinations that can provide clear-cut evaluations, many physicians find it hard to establish the presence of multiple sclerosis. Because of this, patients suffer both from the symptoms of the conditions and the confusion these symptoms bring. Though patients feel that "something" is seriously wrong about them, that "something" is typically not hard to miss.

Symptoms of multiple sclerosis may be transient, mild or similar with other conditions. Attacks are intermittent and hard to understand. The nature of the disease itself is barely understood. All these add in to the extended suffering of patients.

The best option current medical science can provide when it comes to diagnosing this condition is by way of ruling out other diseases that possess symptoms similar with multiple sclerosis. While this is helpful, it provides somewhat inconclusive evidence. Doctors will try to evaluate the medical history of the patient, presence of co-morbid disorders and illnesses, and other factors. Only after other conditions were ruled out will the doctors present the possible presence of multiple sclerosis. After this, the neurologist will examine the patient based on the following:

Whether or not the patient had experienced two or more relapses at different points in time;
Whether or not the patient shows signs of demyelination in two or more areas of the central nervous system; or,
Whether or not the patient had experienced at least one relapse, have at least one indication of lesions of the myelin sheath on either the brain or the spinal cord, and laboratory tests provide results consistent with those commonly observed among patients of multiple sclerosis.

If indications are strong, diagnosis can be made. But even when the patient scored positive with the aforementioned criteria, it is still not evidence enough to fully ascertain the presence of the disease. For patients who experience symptoms that come and go, and those who have experienced only one relapse, further examinations will be recommended after a certain period of time, thus extending the uncertainty of diagnosis.

On top of these, it is not uncommon to utilize diagnostic tests and examinations to evaluate the symptoms. MRI or Magnetic Resonance Imaging, examination of brain fluids and evoked potentials are used to prove the presence of the disease. Though these are helpful, these can only create strong suggestions with respect to the onset of the condition. The extent of damage and the location of damage on the central nervous system cannot be assessed through these tests.

A specialist or a neurologist would only give diagnosis once definite signs of the disease are identified, otherwise, a series of tests may be undergone or recommendation to other doctors may be given. Or worse, the patient will be left to agonize on his condition without clearly knowing what he is suffering from. This creates serious problems for the patients.

For most, the inability of doctors to give clear evaluations of their conditions makes it doubly difficult and exasperating. Some patients go beyond the belief that they have gone crazy while others continually suffer with symptoms that increase in severity over time without medications or treatments.

While all these are true, the fact that some forms of diagnosis is present are somehow sufficient to extend help to the sufferers of Multiple Sclerosis..

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 Edward Pena is a successful network marketer that owns his own company and helps mentor people to be successful in mlm. To take advantage of his free advice, go to: MLMSuccess

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Coping Techniques for People Suffering From Multiple Sclerosis

Having a chronic disease brings a host of changes in one's life and those of others who depend on you or interact with you on a regular basis. Once you receive a diagnosis, you would find that the symptoms are increasingly becoming more difficult. People are getting affected; you progress into something less able to function normally. And the condition gets worst. Your relationship with people, most of whom you love and care for, gets injured. On top of this, there are no known cures, only treatments that you hope will relieve the unpredictable symptoms. There may not be a lot you can do about it but there are some things that could ease your distress. One way of taking charge of multiple sclerosis is by knowing and practicing appropriate coping techniques.

Have a positive disposition.  It is hard to be hopeful knowing that there is a huge wall between you being sick and you having a normal life. But, it always pays to look at the brighter side of your condition. It is not a terminal disease and it's not contagious. That's a good start, isn’t it? Also, having a positive outlook lifts up huge chunks of burden from your breast and it makes you a lot more happy, a bit more hopeful and, in fact, a bit less sick.

Educate your family about multiple sclerosis  Or, encourage them to befriend the sickness. Much of the problem comes from your family's inability to cope with your disease. However, this can be remedied by enlightening them about the nature of your condition, what should be their expectations, what should be their attitudes about your symptoms. This way, they will know where you are coming from and they would be able to understand you better, if not, help you suffer less. 

Be like the children who have multiple sclerosis themselves . In the face of a chronic illness or disability, children seem to handle it much better than their adult counterparts. This is because they have great expectations about their future, they do not easily lose their grip on their hopes of becoming better. This attitude tends to protect them from the debilitation they are or will be experiencing. If an adult sufferer can take hold of this attitude or develop it, it would surely be beneficial. 

Don’t bother too much about the future.  Do not live in the future. By doing so, you will not have to be overpowered by fear of the future. This is the winning attitude of people who are triumphant against the disease. Just try to prepare and think about it but do not act like you have to control it.

Live one day at a time. Treat everyday like you are a perfectly normal human being. This would not prevent the relapse of symptoms for sure but it could help you get through the day without it being too overwhelming for you. 

Don’t nurse your pain. Because the symptoms are unpredictable and because they are often life-inhibiting, your best course of action against them is not to focus on them, though without compromising your needs for rehabilitation, therapy and treatment.

A patient's attitude often defines how well he can live through his sickness and the disabilities it causes. So get that positive attitude. With these coping techniques you can live a long healthy life with multiple sclerosis.

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 Edward Pena is a successful network marketer that owns his own company and helps mentor people to be successful in mlm. To take advantage of his free advice, go to: MLMSuccess

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Facts Surrounding Multiple Sclerosis

There are plenty of things medical scientists, researchers, neurologists and physicians know about the nature of multiple sclerosis, but there are also plenty of other things that they do not know. In this article, facts surrounding MS are presented.

The disease is caused by the damages on the protective insulation or the myelin sheath of the neurons. This one thing is sure, the disease roots from an abnormal immune system response that damages the myelin sheath or the protective insulation of the neurons. It is not definite though what causes this autoimmune response.

It runs in the family – There are strong indications that this condition is determined by a specific genetic make-up. Research is yet to establish though which genes play the part in the expression of the disease. People who have relatives who possess this condition are twice more susceptible to the onset of multiple sclerosis than those who belong in the general population.

Women are at higher risk of developing the condition – Women are 2 to 3 times more likely to develop the condition. The reason for this is not definite though.

People who live in places at higher altitudes are more susceptible to the development of the disease. There are higher incidences of multiple sclerosis near the earth's poles than near the equator. Explanation for this is yet to be established. Nonetheless, researchers and scientist are entertaining the idea that environment may trigger the onset of the condition.

Multiple sclerosis is not fatal or contagious but it can definitely decrease life expectancy. The condition is capricious, yes, but it does not pose dangers to other people apart from those who have already developed it. Though it may not cause death, it may be instrumental to shorter lifespan.

Multiple sclerosis is a disease that seems to have young adults as its main target. People who are aged between 20 to 50 years old oftentimes experience the onset of strange symptoms. And by the time they get older, they experience far more difficult symptoms that limit their capacity to function well.

Its symptoms are unpredictable.  It would be impossible for you to climb the stairs today but you could possibly run around the town tomorrow. You may not be able to close the car door properly today but you will be able to do the shopping tomorrow. You may feel great today but the next day, you would feel like you have been hit by a truck. Symptoms are just different each day.

Attacks of symptoms are different from one day to another and its severity and the level of debilitation it brings vary from time to time.  Symptoms may progress one day, health the next day. There are periods of bad days and good days which reflect the relapse, remission and progression in severity of the condition. It is the nature of the disease to manifest in various, oftentimes, dissimilar manners. 

 

People who suffer from multiple sclerosis live with the certainty that their condition is unpredictable - One day may be different from another and it is never certain whether today will be as bad or as good as the day following it. Because of these fluctuations in the characteristics of the symptoms experienced, people with this condition often find it hard to function normally, to plan for the future with a degree of decisiveness and to enjoy daily living.

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 Edward Pena is a successful network marketer that owns his own company and helps mentor people to be successful in mlm. To take advantage of his free advice, go to: MLMSuccess

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