The symptomatic spectrum of multiple sclerosis can be very
diverse, involving different manifestations according to the affected
body regions. Multiple sclerosis is an inflammatory neurological
disease, causing dysfunctions mainly at the level of the central nervous
system. Due to the fact that multiple sclerosis affects the nervous
system, people with this form of neurological disease can in time
experience symptoms in most innervated regions of the body.
An
estimated number of over 2 million people worldwide suffer from multiple
sclerosis, while in the United States the disease affects around
350.000 people. For some reason, multiple sclerosis predominantly
affects the female gender. Although the disease can also be developed by
men, multiple sclerosis is very common in women. Another interesting
characteristic of multiple sclerosis is that it commonly affects young
people. The disease has the highest incidence in people with ages
between 20 and 40, rarely affecting the elderly.
Multiple
sclerosis involves damage of the nervous cells, destroying myelin, a
substance that normally covers neurons. Myelin has a vital role in
transmitting nervous impulses throughout the entire body, establishing
connections between the neighboring nervous cells. When the layers of
myelin are affected, nervous impulses travel at reduced speed between
neurons and the body is unable to adequately respond to external
stimuli.
The symptoms of multiple sclerosis are diversified and
they can be perceived in different regions of the body. Most patients
have individualized symptoms of multiple sclerosis, and they tend to
occur in episodes, or "flares". The evolution of multiple sclerosis is
unpredictable, alternating between stages of remission and stages of
relapse. Most people with multiple sclerosis experience intermittent,
recidivating symptoms which amplify in the stages of recurrence.
Considering the fact that the symptoms of multiple sclerosis are various
and at certain stages of the disease unspecific, multiple sclerosis
can't be diagnosed only upon clinical manifestations. Multiple sclerosis
is usually diagnosed upon laboratory tests, blood analyses and
elaborate neurological examinations.
Common, generalized symptoms
of multiple sclerosis are: pronounced fatigue, body weakness, sensations
of tingling, burning, pain, itching and numbness of the muscles, loss
of dexterity and uncoordinated body movement. Other physical symptoms of
multiple sclerosis are: decreased vision, loss of mobility, shaking,
spasms, tremors, poor balance, dizziness, vertigo. In later stages of
the disease, the symptoms of multiple sclerosis can include partial
paralysis, renal and gastrointestinal dysfunctions.
Neuropsychological
symptoms of multiple sclerosis are: mental confusion; altered,
inaccurate perceptions; poor concentration; short-term memory loss;
compromised judgment and unpredictable, sudden changes of mood. A
symptom of multiple sclerosis that commonly occurs in people with this
form of neurological disease is depression. Most people affected by
multiple sclerosis eventually become depressed and avoid any kind of
interaction with other people.
Although many symptoms of multiple
sclerosis can be very pronounced at certain stages of the disease, they
can be alleviated through the means of medical treatment. Medical
treatments available today are able to ease the symptoms of multiple
sclerosis in the periods of relapse and in time they can even help the
reconstruction of myelin, thus helping patients to recover from the
disease. It is important to timely discover the symptoms of multiple
sclerosis in order to begin the administration of an appropriate medical
treatment before the disease becomes serious.
