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Index of Diseases and Conditions: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Multiple Sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a nervous system disease that affects your brain and spinal cord. It damages the myelin sheath, the material that surrounds and protects your nerve cells. This damage slows down or blocks messages between your brain and your body, leading to the symptoms of MS. They can include

No one knows what causes MS. It may be an autoimmune disease, which happens when your body attacks itself. Multiple sclerosis affects woman more than men. It often begins between the ages of 20 and 40. Usually, the disease is mild, but some people lose the ability to write, speak or walk. There is no cure for MS, but medicines may slow it down and help control symptoms. Physical and occupational therapy may also help.

National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke

Multiple Sclerosis on Wikipedia

'''Multiple sclerosis''' ('''MS''') is a demyelinating disease, a non-contagious chronic autoimmune disorder of the central nervous system which can present with a variety of neurological symptoms occurring in attacks or slowly progressing over time. It has no cure yet and the exact cause remains unknown. Due to its effects of the nervous system, it can lead to long-term impaired mobility and disability in the more severe cases.

History

There are a few early reports about patients who could have suffered from MS. St. Lidwina of Schiedam (1380–1433), a Netherlands nun, may have been the first reported MS patient. From the age of 16, she developed intermittent pain, weakness of the legs, and visual loss—symptoms typical of MS. She died at the age of 53. Augustus Frederick d'Este (1794–1848), an illegitimate grandson of King George III, another famous MS patient, left a detailed diary describing his 22 years living with the disease. It began at 28 with a sudden transient visual loss after the funeral of a friend. During the course of his disease he developed weakness of the legs, clumsiness of the hands, numbness, dizziness, bladder disturbances, and erectile dysfunction. In 1844, he was confined to a wheelchair. Until his death four years later, he kept an optimistic view of life. The British diarist W. N. P. Barbellion also kept a detailed log of his diagnosis and struggle with MS, published in 1919 as ''The Journal of a Disappointed Man''. Robert Hooper (1773–1835), a Kingdom of Great Britain pathologist and practicing physician, Robert Carswell (1793–1857), a British professor of pathology, and Jean Cruveilhier (1791–1873), a France professor of pathologic anatomy, were the first to describe ...   [ Read More ]


External Resources

Annette Funicello Fund For Neurological Disorders - The actor, who lives with multiple sclerosis, established the fund in 1993. Site allows visitors to donate money online.

Help Your Child Avoid Multiple Sclerosis - Detailed research on Multiple Sclerosis dealing with the geographical risk factors, susceptibility symptoms, parenting, and migration.

Black Patent Shoes, Dancing with MS - By Eva Marsh. Learn about decades old research which led her to challenge accepted perceptions and devise successful strategies for recovery from the damage of repeated episodes of multiple sclerosis.

Coping and Prevailing with Multiple Sclerosis - A journey that is logical, spiritual and fool proof for overcoming any of life's difficulties.

Watermark - Canes and walking sticks designed to help Multiple Sclerosis. Have postage stamp theme, additional artwork and brass handle. For disabled or collector.

Lift Up - Offers plans and parts list for an upper body sling transfer device. Designed by professional engineer with Multiple Sclerosis. It is fail-safe, economical, and powerline-independent.

Altimate Medical - Standers and mobility aids for persons with cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, spina bifida, and multiple sclerosis.

R & H Designs - Personalized mother's bracelets. Several designs to choose from, including Multiple Sclerosis awareness and breast cancer awareness bracelets.

T-Helper Cells & Cytokines In Multiple Sclerosis - Four abstracts covering the role of cytokines and T-helper cells in multiple sclerosis.

Chemokine Therapeutics Corp. - Company involved in discovery, development, and manufacture of peptide analogs and peptidomimetics for the treatment of cancer, multiple sclerosis, arthritis, and atherosclerosis. Includes technical overview, profiles and contacts in Vancouver, Canada.


Related Pages on HealthTales.com:

Multiple Myeloma
Multiple endocrine neoplasia
Twins, Triplets, Multiple Births
Recessive multiple epiphyseal dysplasia
Tuberous Sclerosis
Tuberous sclerosis
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Juvenile primary lateral sclerosis

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