MS is “widely considered an autoimmune disorder, meaning that the immune system of an otherwise normal person is tricked into attacking healthy parts of the body, MS causes damage in many areas of the nervous system. This leads to symptoms that are often different for different people. These include things as seemingly diverse as fatigue, walking problems, depression, cognitive impairment, muscle tightness, or bladder problems,” says Lauren Krupp, M.D., and Robert Charlson, M.D.
Going to a specialist to receive an assessment concerning multiple sclerosis can be nerve-wracking. With the illness being an autoimmune disease, it already clues you in on the possibility that you may have to deal with it forever. Despite that, it may be difficult to gauge just how painful it is for your immune system to attack your nerve cells on a regular basis.
But things become different when the doctor finally confirms that you do have multiple sclerosis. While you may look for a second or third opinion from other physicians, there’s a chance that you can’t escape MS anymore. All you can do now is to learn more about the ailment to make your new reality extra endurable.
- Its Primary Cause Is Unclear
When you ask a health professional why you, of all people, acquired the disease, he or she can give you a few likely causes. You may not hear them say that it’s due to your lifestyle, genes, or something else, however, since it isn’t easy to pinpoint. The scientists need to conduct further studies before they can make definitive statements about it.
- The Symptoms May Change
The signs of multiple sclerosis can vary as well, although the immune system mainly goes after the nerves in the spine and brain. Thus, you can experience a numbing sensation in the beginning, along with faltering in your steps and exhaustion. Following that, you may feel dizzy and stiff at times and have issues with your thought process and bowel movement.
- It Has Four Diverse Types
You also need to know that there are four types of MS. When a doctor tells you that you have a “benign” kind, it means that your immunity won’t always target your nerves. The relapsing-remitting type, on the other hand, entails that the symptoms can come and go. Nonetheless, the illness may be more severe if you get diagnosed with primary or secondary progressive multiple sclerosis as that’s when the indications intensify.
- Stress And Other Things Can Trigger It
How does your body react when you have an infection or are too busy to sleep regularly? The brain automatically sends out a distress call to your immune system to protect your cells, of course. But for some unknown reason, the antibodies see the myelin covering of the nerves as foreign entities, so they damage it in the process. It is why you should live healthily from the moment you find out that you’re carrying an autoimmune disease – to prevent triggering it.
“When individuals are very stressed, particularly if they become anxious or depressed, their ability to think clearly and objectively may be affected. People can easily feel less capable or weaker than they truly are, and think that their situation is much worse than it really is,” says Steve Bressert, Ph.D.
- It Becomes Apparent In Your Mid- To Late-20s
In case you didn’t notice the symptoms above when you reached 20 or 22, you can’t assume that you are entirely free from multiple sclerosis. They may appear from the age of 25 and above; that’s why it’s best to be aware of the MS signals to watch out for now.
- There Are Treatment Options Available For It
The first remedy that a doctor may recommend to you is taking pills. You can try that, for sure, but bear in mind that autoimmune diseases are still incurable up to this day.
Another option is to improve your lifestyle and be selective about the foods you eat.
“Researchers combined two complementary brain imaging techniques to study the relationship between hippocampal immune response, functional connections, and depressive symptoms. As such, the findings suggest that hippocampal inflammation could be the contributing cause of high rates of depression in multiple sclerosis,” according to Rick Nauert PhD.
Multiple sclerosis is a neurological sickness that may be impossible to get rid of once you catch it. Regardless of that, your life shouldn’t stop after the diagnosis. Find ways to cope with the symptoms, for instance, and treat your body with more care. That’s the only thing that can help you prevent the health condition from worsening.