Read the text and find out who can suffer from multiple sclerosis.

What is it? Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a neurologic disorder that disables young adults. It is not contagious. If you have MS, you may have symptoms like numbness or tingling, weakness, or unsteady walking. After an attack, the symptoms may go away or they may stay. They may slowly get worse over time without any quick or sudden changes. It is hard to predict how bad the disorder may get. There are many differences from one person to another.

In general, MS is not life threatening. The life span of those with MS is only slightly less than the general public. The disorder affects at least 300, 000 people in the United States. The average age of diagnosis is 30. Sometimes the condition appears in children or in older adults. At least twice as many women suffer from the disorder than men. It is more common in Caucasian people than other races. The number of people with MS increases the farther they live from the equator.

What is the cause? The cause of MS is unknown. It may be the result of a combination of environmental and genetic reasons. Common viruses may cause attacks or recurrences. There is strong evidence that MS is “immune-mediated.” This means your own immune system attacks the central nervous system (an auto-immune disease).

MS begins with an inflammation in your central nervous system (the brain and spinal cord). This is followed by the loss of the protective myelin sheaths that are wrapped around nerve fibers. Myelin is like the insulation that covers and protects electrical wires. When the myelin is damaged, nerve impulses are slowed, garbled, or blocked. The inflammation causes lesions (called “plaques”) to develop in your brain and spinal cord. Symptoms then begin to appear. They can range from numbness in the arms and legs to paralysis or vision problems.

You have a little higher chance of getting MS if you have a close relative with the disorder. But it is not truly inherited in the general population. Researchers think there is a 1 or 2 per 1000 chance in the United States of getting MS. However, in families where MS already exists, the risk of another family member getting the condition is about 6 in 1000. This seems like a higher risk, but it is not thought to be a major reason for getting MS.

What are the symptoms? There are several kinds of MS. Most people with MS begin with the “relapsing remitting” stage of the disorder. This means your symptoms come and go. Usually you will feel completely normal until another relapse, or MS attack, happens. Symptoms that come with relapses usually build up over a period of hours to days. They can last for a few days or weeks and then go away, sometimes even without any treatment. New attacks happen at irregular times.

Common symptoms include:

· Vision loss

· Numbness or tingling

· Weakness or fatigue

· Unsteady walking

· Double vision

· Greater sensitivity to heat

· Partial or complete paralysis

· Electric shock sensations when bending the neck

Over time, about 60 percent of people with relapsing remitting MS develop a secondary form of the disorder. It is referred to as “chronic progressive.” This means your symptoms do not completely go away at the end of an attack. You are left with some type of permanent neurological symptom. Attacks may also happen more often.

How is it diagnosed? The diagnosis of MS is based on a clinical history and examination. These procedures will show signs of several lesions in the brain or spinal cord over time. Your neurologist will order tests that will help back up the diagnosis. Usually a magnetic resonance imaging scan (MRI) of the brain (and possibly the spinal cord) is ordered to find proof of abnormal areas. Lumbar puncture, also called a “spinal tap, ” is helpful to find problems with the cerebrospinal fluid. Computer assisted tests called “evoked responses” may also be used to help in diagnosis.

What are the treatments? Right now, there is no prevention or cure for MS. However, this is a promising time for people with the disorder. Several new drugs have been approved or are awaiting approval by the US Food and Drug Administration. Current treatments are divided into three categories:

Treatments for the symptoms of MS. These include drugs to decrease muscle stiffness, reduce tiredness, control bladder symptoms, ease pain, and address sexual problems.

Treatments that change attacks when they occur. These treatments are primarily ACTH (an adrenal hormone) and corticosteroids (a synthesized adrenal hormone) which can shorten an MS attack. Doctors most often recommend large doses of steroids injected into a vein for several days. Longer-term steroid use, however, does not do a good job of slowing progress of the disorder.

New drugs that change disorder activity. Three drugs are now on the market to affect development of the disorder. They are interferon beta 1b, interferon beta 1a, and glatiramer acetate. These drugs can reduce the number of attacks and long-term damage to the brain caused by MS.

Progress through research. Neurologists and neuroscientists are doing laboratory research to create better treatments. Most possible treatments are discovered and tested in an animal model of MS called “experimental allergic encephalomyelitis” before being tried in human studies.

A number of important clinical trials are in progress. These trials test promising therapies on people with the disorder. Many people find it helpful to participate in such studies. Being part of research trials can be rewarding for people with MS and their families. Trials allow them to work closely with health care providers and increase their knowledge of the condition’s process. People can learn about these trials by contacting the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.

Continued research into understanding the disorder and developing new treatments offers real hope for improvement in the lives of people affected by MS.

Living with MS can create great hardship to people with the disorder and their loved ones. The unpredictable nature of the disorder and its appearance in the prime of life increase the psychological toll. There are many ways to help reduce this toll.

You may find that MS support groups are a source of help, comfort, and information. You can also learn about research results and new treatments through these groups. Counseling can also be helpful in coping with the emotional aspects of MS.

People with MS can benefit from regular exercise. In addition to improving general health and well-being, exercise can also help manage the symptoms of MS. An exercise program should be tailored to each person. You should talk with your neurologist before starting a new exercise program.

A well-balanced diet can help maintain general good health. MS specialists recommend that people with MS eat the same low-fat, high-fiber diet that is recommended for the general population.