#WorldMultipleSclerosisDay 27 may 2015: Raise Awareness

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is believed to be an immune-mediated disorder in which myelin sheath or nerve fiber is damaged or destroyed due to formation of lesions, scar tissue (sclerosis) is formed and nerve impulses travelling to and from the brain and spinal cord are distorted or interrupted, producing a wide variety of symptoms. People from northern European countries are at a higher risk of developing MS and women are 2 to 3 times more likely to develop MS than men.

MS is a chronic disorder which affects muscular movements of the patients.The progress of MS and a person’s prognosis is not predictable at the early stages with great accuracy. Patients are advised at the early stages to try to lead a normal life, exercise frequently, and follow healthy diets. However, delay in diagnosis of any early warning symptom can lead to more complicated problems. MS is not a fatal disease. Death results from other causes, such as heart attack or pneumonia, which is not related to the MS disease process.

Possible triggering factors:

• Environmental causes: prevalence increases with distance from Equator
• Genetics: Siblings of an affected person have a 2%-5% risk of developing MS
• ·      Viruses: Epstein-Barr, varicella zoster, and hepatitis vaccine may be the cause of MS but not yet proven
• ·      Sex hormones: Estrogen and progesterone may suppress some immune activity and hence the increased incidence in females

Common symptoms of MS

1.       Blurred vision and mental imbalance
2.       Lack of coordination
3.       Difficulty in walking and doing physical activities due to poor balance and muscular weakness
4.       Numbness and tingling sensation
5.       Poor bladder control

How to manage MS?

Living life fully with MS demands some basic requirements that can help manage your symptoms

• Healthy diet
• Regular exercise
• Stress management and other wellness strategies
• Assistive devices for help with walking, bathing and toiletting, dressing –up, eating, sleeping, and writing
• Memory sharpening tools: by using tools and gadgets like digital recorders, calenders, sticky-notes, diaries or record books.
• Support in education and employment; Small changes such as having somewhere to have a rest, or flexible work hours, can make a big difference to being able to stay on at work.

Raise awareness for MS to make a difference

Educating people about the disease and spreading information about the available solutions and support systems can make a difference in the patient outcome. Multiple Sclerosis is incurable, but with proper medications, physical therapy  and rehabilitation  patients can have fast recovery, or relief from the symptoms.

•  Seminars  and meetings  to educate people about the symptoms and management of MS can be taken up by physicians and social organizations.
•  Social media and online forums, can allow space for people to share their personal experiences with MS-affected individuals in their family or acquaintances.
•  Awareness messages via emails, cards, or  even a news, can create awareness in a group of people.
• MS awareness days or weeks can play an important role in raising awareness among common people about how to support the patients.
• Involvement of celebrities for raising awareness and funds for the cause of MS can play a significant role.

This blog from the desk of Turacoz Healthcare Solutions is anendeavour to spread the word for incurabe but controllable Multiple Sclerosis.

Reach out to us for developing patient education material, and building scientific evidence in the form of manuscripts, review articles, and slide deck preparation to train field force/doctors at [email protected].