Archive for the ‘Multiple Sclerosis’ Category
Sunday, May 25th, 2008 |
Fifty years ago Multiple Sclerosis was virtually unheard of. Today, there are approximately 2.5 million people worldwide afflicted with Multiple Sclerosis. According to the National MS Society, 200 people are diagnosed with the disease every day.
Multiple Sclerosis is most commonly diagnosed in people between 20 and 50 years of age. However, 5 % of MS patients are under the age of 21, and many people who are diagnoses later show symptoms as early as 15 or 16 years of age. There are several cases of children diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. Approximately 10% of all those with MS received there diagnosis after the age of 50. The youngest person with Multiple Sclerosis was diagnoses at the age of 10 years.
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Saturday, May 24th, 2008 |
Deciding when to tell your employer of your MS diagnosis is easily as important as deciding when to tell your family. Under ADA rules you do not have to disclose an illness unless it causes a significant challenge in the workplace, or if you are requesting accommodations such as specific equipment or altered work times.
However, multiple sclerosis is unpredictable and while you may be fine today, it is possible for a new symptom to start while you’re at work. The best time to inform your employer of the diagnosis may be when you are symptom-free. Arm yourself with information about your illness so that you can reassure your employer and provide needed information.
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Friday, May 23rd, 2008 |
Multiple Sclerosis is an autoimmune disease which effects the central nervous system. For reasons unknown to allopathic medicine, the body’s immune system, which is designed to attack invading viruses and bacteria, starts attacking the lining around the nerve fibers.
This protective coating, called myelin, is damaged, or destroyed, leaving scar tissue or ‘sclerosis’ behind. Myelin is made up of primarily fatty tissue and it’s purpose is to protect and insulate nerve fibers. Myelin helps keep the nerve signals intact and ensures they get where they are supposed to go, much like the insulating coating around electrical wires. Without functional myelin the nerve fibers can not carry electrical impulses through the body properly.
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Thursday, May 22nd, 2008 |
Multiple Sclerosis is like a snowflake. No two cases are the same. Every person has different symptoms and many times symptoms for one person will even vary from day to day.
Which symptoms a person shows depends entirely on where in the Central Nervous System the myelin is damaged, and how severe that damage is.
Vision disturbances are a very common symptom of Multiple Sclerosis. Things like blurred vision, optic neuritis, double vision and involuntary rapid eye movements are very common, and usually clear up either with or without treatment. Total vision loss is possible, but very rare.
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Wednesday, May 21st, 2008 |
Multiple sclerosis is an autoimmune disease of the central nervous system. This means that something causes the immune system to go into overdrive and attack normal, healthy myelin. No one is quite sure why this happens, however one theory that the body is reacting to toxins either ingested or in the environment.
Some people have found significant reduction of symptoms or flare-ups by eliminating potential toxins in the foods they eat and in their home and workplace.
In order to eliminate potential toxins from foods is important to eat whole, organic foods, and foods, which have not been sprayed with chemical pesticides or monosodium glutamate (MSG). .
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Tuesday, May 20th, 2008 |
Most people with multiple sclerosis experience some sort of chronic pain. Where acute pain is sharp and short lived, chronic pain is with the person most of the time. Sometimes it can vary in intensity and even location, but chronic pain is always with you.
There are many things that can cause chronic pain for a person with multiple sclerosis.
Nerve damage can cause burning, tingling, and the sensation of pins and needles. This phenomenon is called chronic dysesthesias. Typically, this is treated by either the anticonvulsant medication gabapentin (Neurontin) or the antidepressant amitriptyline (Elavil). Both of these medications modify how the central nervous system reacts to pain. Non-medical interventions include wearing a pressure stocking or glove, applying a warm compress to the skin, or using over-the-counter and pain medications such as acetaminophen.
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Monday, May 19th, 2008 |
The best bet diet was designed to people who have multiple sclerosis. It is based on the idea that the immune system goes into overdrive when food proteins enter the bloodstream through the key yet. The best bet diet is formulated to eliminate foods which have a molecular structure similar to myelin.By avoiding the specific foods you reduce the risk that proteins which leak to the blood might be mistaken for healthy myelin by the immune system.
Common foods that a molecularly similar to myelin include animal milk, butter, cheese and yogurts made from animal milk.This means that all dairy products must be avoided. Most people replace these items with soy milk, rice milk, or coconut milk.
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Sunday, May 18th, 2008 |
The decision to tell your family and friends about to multiple sclerosis, is a very personal one. The people who need to know most are those that you live with, because they are the people who will be affected the most. When and how much to tell your children will depend on the age of the children, and their level of maturity. You know your children best; trust your judgment about what they can handle
Your spouse or life partner can help you research and decide upon a course of treatment. The treatment that you choose will affect your lifestyle and potentially have the lifestyle of your mate; therefore, it is important to involve them in making that decision.
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Saturday, May 17th, 2008 |
While there is no cure for Multiple Sclerosis, there are many treatments. Some help delay onset of disability and work to slow progression of the disease. These are called disease altering drugs or DAD. Some treatments are designed to shorten the length of exacerbations or flare-ups. Still other medications are used to relive symptoms of MS either short term or long term.
The most popular DAD medications are the Interferon beta drugs. Avonex, Rebif and Betaseron fall into this class. These medications work to limit immune system response and help reduce the number and frequency of MS attacks.
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Friday, May 16th, 2008 |
There are three Interferon beta medications used in the treatment of Multiple Sclerosis. These medications work to slow the progression of MS, reducing legions and delaying the onset of some types of disability.
Rebif is one of these medications. Rebif is delivered through subcutaneous injection three times per week. These injections must be spaced at least 48 hours apart. . Many people take them on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday before bed so they don’t have to worry about taking injections during the weekend.
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Thursday, May 15th, 2008 |
Many people, newly diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, wonder how they will be able to raise their family. In fact, until recently many doctors told women with MS not to have children.
But, it is possible to raise even a large family if you have multiple sclerosis. Like everything else, it takes planning and willingness to take an honest look at your health and abilities.
Don’t try to do to be ‘super mom or dad.’ It’s important to remember that even parents without MS have trouble keeping up with everything. Parents with MS should learn to budget their time, and more importantly, their energy. Plan a trip to the playground for times you have more energy, read books and do quiet activities with your kids during those times you‘re likely to feel more tired.
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Wednesday, May 14th, 2008 |
Optic Neuritis is inflammation and demyelination of the optic nerve. Symptoms include when vision, loss of visual acuity or sharpness, partial blindness, pain behind the eye, and changing color vision.
While there are several causes of optic neuritis, it is the single most common initial symptom of multiple sclerosis. The majority of optic neuritis cases occur in only one eye.
Optic Neuritis usually affects people between the ages of 15 and 50 years old. Within this age group, it has been shown that over half of all patients who develop optic neuritis will be diagnosed with multiple sclerosis within 15 years. Optic neuritis is more common people of European descent. Women have double the risk of men developing optic neuritis.
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Tuesday, May 13th, 2008 |
Novantrone is typically prescribed as chemotherapy for treating cancer. However its use in treating secondary- progressive, progressive- relapsing, and significantly worsening relapsing- remitting multiple sclerosis has been proven.
The Interferon Beta medications work by altering the immune system to slow down progression of the disease, and stave off disability. Novantrone works differently. It suppresses the immune system by killing off potentially abnormal T cells, be cells, and macrophages. It is thought that these cells contribute to the body’s attack against the myelin sheath.
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