Facts about Multiple Sclerosis

Q. What is Multiple Sclerosis?

A. Multiple Sclerosis is commonly referred to by the acronym MS. MS is an autoimmune disease that affects the central nervous system, which consists of the brain, spinal cord, and the optic nerves.

Q. Who get MS?

A. MS is not isolated or inherited. MS is most common in individuals with a northern European ancestry, but no group is immune.

Q. How many people have MS?

A. There are about 400,000 patients in the United States and another 200 diagnosed weekly.

Q. Is MS a fatal disease?

A. No. However, MS can become malignantly progressive in rare cases.

Q. What are the symptoms associated with MS?

A. The symptoms may include abnormal fatigue, impaired vision, loss of balance and muscle coordination, slurred speech, tremors, stiffness, bladder and bowel problems, difficulty walking, short-term memory loss, mood swings, and in severe cases, partial or complete paralysis.

Q. What causes the symptoms referenced in the previous answer?

A. The symptoms result when an inflammatory immune-system affects myelin, which is the protective insulation surrounding nerve fibers of the central nervous system. Myelin is destroyed and replaced by hardened tissue known as sclerotic.

Q. Is MS contagious?

A. No. MS is not contagious, nor is it directly inherited. However, there are some genetic factors that may make an individual more susceptible to MS.

Q. Can MS be cured?

A. No cure has been developed for MS, however there are FDA approved medications that have been developed to help slow down the underlying course of MS.

For more information on Multiple Sclerosis visit the National website at:
http://www.nationalmssociety.org or the Central NC local site at http://www.nmss.org/ncc