What is Multiple Sclerosis? According to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Multiple sclerosis (or MS) is a chronic, often disabling disease that attacks the Central Nervous System (CNS), which is made up of the brain, spinal cord, and optic nerves. Symptoms may be mild, such as numbness in the limbs, or severe, such as paralysis or loss of vision.
How does it affect you?
MS is considered an autoimmune disease (which means your body’s immune system attacks the cells, nerves, tissues and/or other substances normally present in the body). In the case of MS, your immune system attacks your central nervous system and makes it difficult for the signals to reach your brain; thereby causing interruptions or completely stopping the signals. This slowly worsens neurologic function that can eventually lead to all the symptoms one can develop.
What is happening in the body?
Your immune system attacks the myelin, a fatty substance that protects and insulates the nerves. Once this barrier is destroyed, the immune system can even destroy the nerve fibers. This builds a scar tissue (sclerosis) in the spinal cord and/or the brain and it can develop in multiple areas of the central nervous system giving the disease its name. Though the body can rebuild the myelin, the deterioration is so much faster that the body cannot keep up.
What are the stages of MS?
They can be mild, moderate or severe depending on where and how much damage occurred to the body.
What are some of the symptoms?
Muscle weakness, decreased coordination, blurred or hazy vision, eye pain, double vision, muscle stiffness, urinary problems, loss of balance, slurred speech, numbness, extreme fatigue, problems with memory and concentration, paralysis, blindness and more. The way the symptoms affect people vary widely from person to person depending how severely and specifically where the body is being attack and how fast is the attack progressing.
What can I do if I believe or have MS symptoms?
Consult with your doctor. They might be able to prescribe medication to help your symptoms.
What usually happens to individuals with MS?
While many can live a moderately normal life with medication, some require assistance such as: a cane, walker or a wheel chair due to extreme fatigue. For the most part, it is not usually fatal, though some cases have been reported.
A loved one or I is suffering from MS, how can I get help?
Depending on the severity, getting them home care services is a great solution.
First Care of New York can help with all activities of daily living from helping the individual get out of bed, bathing, toileting, grooming, feeding, cooking, cleaning and running errands. With a certified home health aide by your side, you can convert your lifestyle from partially productive to fully productive. Life is to be lived to the fullest without letting the little things get in our way. Assistance from a certified home health aide is not for the weak, it is for those who want to live life to the fullest of your capabilities. Feel free to check out our website to see how we may help you today at www.1st-care.org
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