The immune system attacks a substance called myelin, which surrounds the nerve fibers; it attacks the nerve fibers, too. Because of this process, the myelin forms scar tissue (sclerosis) and distorts or interrupts the nerve impulses traveling to the brain and spinal cord, which can produce a wide range of symptoms.
What Are the Risks for Developing MS?
MS affects more than 2.3 million people worldwide. While the disease is not contagious, nor is it directly inherited, there are a few factors that have been identified as playing a role in causing the disease. Among the factors:
Gender
MS is at least two to three times more common in women than in men, so researchers believe that hormones may play a significant role in determining susceptibility to MS. In fact, recent studies have suggested that the ratio may be as high as three or four to one -- much higher than previously believed.
Age
Most people are diagnosed with MS between the ages of 20 and 50, although this disease can occur in children and older adults.
Ethnicity
MS occurs in most ethnic groups but is more prevalent in people of Caucasian or Northern European ancestry.
Geography
Research has found that MS is more common in areas that are farthest away from the equator. Interestingly, however, some populations, such as the Inuit, Hungarian Romani, Australian Aborigines and New Zealanders have almost a zero occurrence of MS.
Genetics
If you have a family history of MS -- specifically, if one of your parents or siblings has been diagnosed with the disease, you are at a greater risk of developing the disease yourself.
MS can be difficult to diagnose because there is no one single test for the disease, meaning that an accurate diagnosis can be missed or delayed. Symptoms are varied and unpredictable, and just as no two people have the same set of symptoms, each person’s symptoms can vary over time. And because many of the symptoms, individually or in certain combinations, can be indicative of several diseases, delays in accurate diagnosis are possible. According to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, there are a number of early MS symptoms, many of which may be overlooked:
Fatigue
About 80 percent of MS patients suffer from fatigue, reports the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, which can be so severe that it significantly affects their ability to function, both at home and at work. This can be a prominent symptom in a patient with no or minimal activity limitations.
Numbness and Tingling
One of the first experienced symptoms in many MS patients is a sensation of numbness or tingling, which can occur on the face, body, arms and legs. Because MS attacks the brain and spinal cord, the disease can cause the nerves to send conflicting signals to the body or even none at all, resulting in the most common symptom of MS: numbness.
Weakness
Weakness is another common, and sometimes overlooked symptom of MS. The National Multiple Sclerosis Society further explains that weakness with MS patients can be a result of not using muscles or damage to the nerves that stimulate muscles. Patients may manage this symptom with rehabilitation strategies.
Dizziness and Vertigo
People with MS may suffer from dizziness, feeling off balance or lightheaded. Less often, MS patients may suffer from vertigo, or a feeling that they or their surroundings are spinning. Vertigo is often triggered by a change in position, such as bending forward or standing quickly.
Spasticity
MS patients may develop spasticity or feelings of stiffness and a range of involuntary muscle spasms. This condition may develop in any of the limbs but is most common in the legs.
Bladder or Bowel Problems
At least 80 percent of MS patients will suffer from bladder dysfunction. And constipation is a problem among MS patients, as is a loss of bowel control. Bladder and bowel issues can typically be managed with a combination of dietary and fluid management, physical activity, medications, and, sometimes, catheterization.
Walking Difficulties
Walking, or gait difficulties, are common in MS patients. These difficulties are symptomatic of several other issues that result from MS, including weakness, spasticity, loss of balance, sensory deficit and fatigue. Patients suffering from these symptoms can be helped with physical therapy, medications and assistive therapy.
Vision Problems
For many MS sufferers, the onset of blurred vision, poor contrast or poor color vision, and pain during eye movement can be a frightening first symptom of MS. If you are suffering from this symptom, you should be evaluated promptly because it means the disease is attacking the optic nerves.
Cognitive Changes
As many as 50 percent of MS patients develop significant cognitive changes, referring to a range of high-level brain functions. Among these functions, MS patients may develop difficulty learning and remembering new information, organizing and problem-solving, suffer from difficulty focusing attention and have trouble accurately perceiving their environments.
Sexual Dysfunction
Sexual dysfunction is common in the general population and more so in patients suffering from MS. People with MS may have changes in sexual responses, which can be affected by damage the disease has done to the central nervous system, as well as by physical symptoms such as fatigue and spasticity or psychological factors attributed to the disease.
Emotional Changes or Depression
Psychological and emotional changes in a person with MS may be blamed on the stress of living with the disease or can be a result of neurologic and immune changes as the disease runs its course. Depression, mood swings and irritability, as well as episodes of uncontrollable laughing and/or crying can pose particularly trying challenges for people living with MS, as well as for their loved ones, according to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.
Studies have also shown that clinical depression, the most severe form of depression, is diagnosed more frequently in patients suffering from MS than it is in both the general population and in patients suffering from other chronic, disabling diseases.