Multiple Sclerosis - Causes, Symptoms and Treatment
Peter Rodrick
November 17, 2008
The disease multiple sclerosis affects the body's central nervous system. When the disease takes hold, multiple sclerosis symptoms can be painful and debilitating. This experience can be terrifying for a patient who previously lived a full and healthy life.
Sudden physical limitations and mood swings can be extremely difficult for the patient and their family. To help you understand what you or your loved one is going through, we'll explain some of the most common symptoms of MS and give you some tips for coping them.
Causes of Multiple Sclerosis
At present, medical scientists believe that genetic factors play a major role in the occurrence and development of multiple sclerosis. However, the specific genes involved in triggering the disease haven´t yet been identified. It is suspected that multiple sclerosis occurs due to a combination of genetic factors corroborated with a series of environmental factors. The autoimmune response characteristic to multiple sclerosis is also believed to be triggered by prolonged exposure to chemicals (long-term treatments with chemotherapeutic drugs are suspected to facilitate the development of multiple sclerosis) or by past infections.
Some researchers believe that multiple sclerosis may be caused due to genetic predispositions in some cases. In others cases, it may be caused due to micro organisms mimicking certain human cell surface molecules present on the myelin sheath, as a result of which the antibodies may in turn attack the myelin sheath. Examples of such viruses, which may be responsible in these cases include, among others, Epstine Barr Virus and the Human Herpes Virus 6. AIDS patient may contract multiple sclerosis due to immune disorders.
Multiple sclerosis can cause conflicting emotions and depression is the worst. When certain portion of the brains or nervous systems is affected by multiple sclerosis, depression can set in. On the other hand, coping with multiple sclerosis can result in depression as the symptoms can affect your day to day existence. When depression crops up, seek the counsel of the doctor and get prescription medicine such as Prozac and Elavil, etc. to treat it. In addition to the usual medicines, herbal remedies can be effective too but again seek the advice of your doctor as herbal remedies might get in the way of regular multiple sclerosis medications.
Symptoms of Multiple Sclerosis
Visual symptoms, which include optic neuritis i.e. blurred vision, eye pain, blindness, double vision, jerky eye movements, constant under- or over-shooting eye movements, lack of coordination between the two eyes (diplopia).
Motor symptoms, which include muscle weakness, partial to complete paralysis, loss of muscle tone causing stiffness, and even pain and spasticity. Other motor related symptoms include Dysathria, muscle atrophy, problem with the posture (Hyptomia), and the ´restless leg syndrome,´ which is particularly bothersome at night while trying to sleep.
Treatment of Multiple Sclerosis
Currently, the most effective treatment, called the ABC treatment, is aimed at preventing demyelination and controlling relapses. In ABC, A stands for Avonex, B stands for Betaseron/ Betaferon, and C stands for Copaxone. While, A and B are types of beta interferon, Copexone is a different drug.
Although these treatments do not promise a complete cure, their effectiveness in slowing down the progress and reducing relapses has been noticeable. In relapsing- remitting multiple sclerosis, the number of relapses and their severity gets reduced by 25 per cent or more and the lesion load may also get reduced by 70 per cent or more.
Visit Home Remedies. Also visit Breast Enhancement Capsules and Breast Enlargement Capsules
Sudden physical limitations and mood swings can be extremely difficult for the patient and their family. To help you understand what you or your loved one is going through, we'll explain some of the most common symptoms of MS and give you some tips for coping them.
Causes of Multiple Sclerosis
At present, medical scientists believe that genetic factors play a major role in the occurrence and development of multiple sclerosis. However, the specific genes involved in triggering the disease haven´t yet been identified. It is suspected that multiple sclerosis occurs due to a combination of genetic factors corroborated with a series of environmental factors. The autoimmune response characteristic to multiple sclerosis is also believed to be triggered by prolonged exposure to chemicals (long-term treatments with chemotherapeutic drugs are suspected to facilitate the development of multiple sclerosis) or by past infections.
Some researchers believe that multiple sclerosis may be caused due to genetic predispositions in some cases. In others cases, it may be caused due to micro organisms mimicking certain human cell surface molecules present on the myelin sheath, as a result of which the antibodies may in turn attack the myelin sheath. Examples of such viruses, which may be responsible in these cases include, among others, Epstine Barr Virus and the Human Herpes Virus 6. AIDS patient may contract multiple sclerosis due to immune disorders.
Multiple sclerosis can cause conflicting emotions and depression is the worst. When certain portion of the brains or nervous systems is affected by multiple sclerosis, depression can set in. On the other hand, coping with multiple sclerosis can result in depression as the symptoms can affect your day to day existence. When depression crops up, seek the counsel of the doctor and get prescription medicine such as Prozac and Elavil, etc. to treat it. In addition to the usual medicines, herbal remedies can be effective too but again seek the advice of your doctor as herbal remedies might get in the way of regular multiple sclerosis medications.
Symptoms of Multiple Sclerosis
Visual symptoms, which include optic neuritis i.e. blurred vision, eye pain, blindness, double vision, jerky eye movements, constant under- or over-shooting eye movements, lack of coordination between the two eyes (diplopia).
Motor symptoms, which include muscle weakness, partial to complete paralysis, loss of muscle tone causing stiffness, and even pain and spasticity. Other motor related symptoms include Dysathria, muscle atrophy, problem with the posture (Hyptomia), and the ´restless leg syndrome,´ which is particularly bothersome at night while trying to sleep.
Treatment of Multiple Sclerosis
Currently, the most effective treatment, called the ABC treatment, is aimed at preventing demyelination and controlling relapses. In ABC, A stands for Avonex, B stands for Betaseron/ Betaferon, and C stands for Copaxone. While, A and B are types of beta interferon, Copexone is a different drug.
Although these treatments do not promise a complete cure, their effectiveness in slowing down the progress and reducing relapses has been noticeable. In relapsing- remitting multiple sclerosis, the number of relapses and their severity gets reduced by 25 per cent or more and the lesion load may also get reduced by 70 per cent or more.
Visit Home Remedies. Also visit Breast Enhancement Capsules and Breast Enlargement Capsules
Print
Email
