Multiple Sclerosis Essay - 959 Words

Multiple Sclerosis Look around, chances are you or someone in the room either has or knows someone with multiple sclerosis. However, you probably would not be able to tell just by looking at someone if they have MS and that is arguably one of the most frustrating effects of MS. In fact there are a lot of frustrations related to this disease, it affects every patient differently, it is difficult to diagnose, symptoms are merely managed, it is unpredictable and life altering for those with it and for those that care for them. It is estimated that over two and a half million people worldwide are affected by MS. Two hundred new diagnosis are reported every week in the United States alone, and the numbers of cases are likely much higher than†¦show more content†¦Brain signals can often not reach their destination because of the damage to the nerves. What causes the damage to the myelin? Basically, T-cells which are part of white blood cells. Normally, white blood cells attack foreign substances suc h as viruses and bacteria or other foreign tissues but in people with MS these cells get confused and attack myelin which is why MS is considered an autoimmune deficiency. MS is often disabling meaning that a wheelchair is needed. However, people with this disease suffer from a wide variety of problems, from trouble walking and maintaining balance, muscle weakness, spasms, pain, fatigue, sensation of numbness, and vision problems to name a few. These symptoms are often in recurring periods of time with worsening symptoms, people who suffer from MS have moments where the symptoms are hardly noticeable, and moments when the symptoms are very severe (NMSS). Even though, we understand that T-cells have gone rogue and cause the damage to the myelin no one understands why the T-cells start to attack the myelin to begin with. However, there is interesting data that suggest that genetics, a persons environment, and possibly even a virus may play a role†(WebMD). These theories have yet to be proven and subsequently prevents a cure. It is for that reason, symptoms are treated and managed to try to improve the life of people that have MS. Treatment typically focuses on speedingShow MoreRelatedEssay Multiple Sclerosis1206 Words   |  5 PagesMultiple Sclerosis The primary objective of this paper is to raise fundamental questions in regards to multiple sclerosis, and to explore possibilities that attempt to answer these inquiries. Second, the prospective outcome is to provide a solid knowledge base for which my peers may begin to understand the relationship between multiple sclerosis and neurobiology and behavior. The first question to address in the general schema of this essay is: What is Multiple Sclerosis? Multiple SclerosisRead MoreMultiple Sclerosis Essay824 Words   |  4 PagesMultiple Sclerosis is an autoimmune disorder where the myelin sheath within the Central Nervous System is attacked (National Multiple Sclerosis Society, 2017). The myelin sheath protects the axon of the nerve cell. When the myelin sheath is intact, the axon is able to carry impulses away from the neuron’s cell body, and the message carried is clear. With Multiple Sclerosis, the myelin sheath becomes scarred, hence the word â€Å"sclerosis†, and distorts the nerve impulses traveling over the CNS (NationalRead MoreEssay Multiple Sclerosis583 Words   |  3 PagesMultiple sclerosis is a complex, autoimmune disease caused by damage of the fatty myelin sheaths around axons of the brain and spinal cord which leads to demyelination, lesions (scaring) and inflammation1, 2, 3. This damage leads to disruption of nerve impulse along axons resulting in the many symptoms seen in multiple sclerosis patients . Although its exact etiology is unknown, current research indicates that multiple sclerosis is a complex combination of genetic and environmental factors. It hasRead More Multiple Sclerosis Essay731 Words   |  3 Pages Multiple sclerosis, or MS, is a disease of the central nervous system. The central nervous system is made up of the brain and spinal cord. Both have nerve fibers that are wrapped in a myelin sheath. In MS, the myelin sheath becomes inflamed and gradually is destroyed. With the destruction of the myelin sheath comes an array of symptoms that may include numbness or tingling, balance problems, weakness, muscle spasms, and blurred vision. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Anyone can develop MS, but manyRead More Multiple Sclerosis Essay1724 Words   |  7 PagesMultiple sclerosis, also known as MS, is one of humankind’s most mysterious diseases. No one knows the exact cause and there is no exact treatment. Still multiple sclerosis has the ability to affect nearly 3 million people worldwide and at least 500,000 people in the United States (Boroch). This disease tends to be more common in individuals of northern European descent and women are more than twice as likely to develop multiple sclerosis as men. Of those 3 million people, most of them are betweenRead MoreMultiple Sclerosis Essay1328 Words   |  6 Pages Multiple Sclerosis is a disease that can impact many different parts of the body. It starts out by the immune system attacking the myelin that surrounds the nerve fibers in the Central Nervous System. Once the myelin tissue is damaged, it forms a type of scar tissue that essentially causes the sclerosis. It th en sends nerve impulses back and forth between the brain and spinal cord that can cause many different ranges of symptoms. Scientists are still researching the cause for this disease; howeverRead More Multiple Sclerosis Essay2039 Words   |  9 PagesMultiple Sclerosis Multiple sclerosis is a disease of the central nervous system. It most commonly occurs in individuals between the ages of twenty and forty (1) and in higher numbers of women than men (2). In Multiple Sclerosis (or MS) a loss of the nerves axon coating myelin prohibits the nerve axons from efficiently conducting action and synaptic potentials. Scar tissue (called plaques or lesions) forms at the points where demyelination occurs in the brain and spinal cord, hence the nameRead MoreEssay on An Overview of Multiple Sclerosis2251 Words   |  10 PagesAn overview of the chronic inflammatory demyelinating disease: Multiple sclerosis BACKGROUND The central nervous system (CNS) comprises grey matter, which contains neuron cell bodies and white matter, which contains the nerve axons. Most of the nerve axons are concentrically wrapped around by lipid-rich biological membrane, known as the myelin sheath. In the CNS, myelin is produced by oligodendrocyte. a type of glial cell. (Pfeiffer et al., 1993). These electrical insulating, multilamellar membranesRead MoreEssay about Multiple Sclerosis2621 Words   |  11 PagesMultiple Sclerosis    You pick up the telephone to call your best friend. You dial a number which will, in effect, let the phone know where to send the signals. But unbeknownst to you, something has worn away the rubber which covers and protects the wires within your phone. Some signals cannot get through, and the ones that do are ambiguous. As a result your important information does not get conveyed to your friend. This is a circumstance similar to the process that occurs within the bodyRead MoreMultiple Sclerosis Essay example1104 Words   |  5 PagesMultiple sclerosis is a chronic, progressive neurological disease affecting all aspects of life: physical, cognitive, emotional, and social (Abma). It is known as an autoimmune disease, Where the body’s immune system turns against the body and destroys the protective covering that surrounds nerve cells. This damage to the nerve cells causes many problems for the patient including weakness, muscle stiffness, poor coordination and balance, tingling, numbness, tremors, blurred vision, slurred speech