If you or someone you love has been diagnosed with MS (multiple sclerosis), then you are already aware how ravaging this disease can be. However, there is a lot about the disease that you may not be aware of. If you suffer from multiple sclerosis, or watch others suffer, you see what happens to the person's body, but what you don't see is what the disease is doing inside the body. There are many multiple sclerosis treatments, but they vary as much as the disease itself.
MS is an autoimmune disease that causes the body to attack it's own cells and tissues. But, why does this happen and what causes it? The cause of multiple sclerosis is still a mystery. It is known however, that the immune system doesn't respond normally and attacks the covering of nerve fibers. The nerve fibers affected are in the optic nerves, brain, and spinal cord.
Early symptoms can often be brief and sometimes even missed. They may include numbness, tingling, weak limbs, unsteadiness, and double or blurred vision. Usually as the disease continues on, the symptoms become more severe. Every case of MS varies, but in later stages symptoms include paralysis that is either partial or complete, loss of body part awareness, blindness, memory issues, incontinence, seizures and respiratory problems.
Multiple sclerosis treatments mainly were designed to lessen the symptoms and slow the progression of the disease. The most frequently prescribed medications include Betaseron, Avonex, and Copaxone. They can help avoid relapses in symptoms once begun. Each drug treats differently and can have different side affects, so it is important to be aware and utilize the best drug for each individual patient. Some of the side affects can be severe, including liver dysfunction, depression and flu symptoms.
There is an increasing interest in using natural multiple sclerosis treatments. Vitamin D and omega 3 fats are thought to possibly be helpful. Antioxidants have also been thought to help in some cases.
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