What is the main cause of multiple sclerosis?

The cause of multiple sclerosis is unknown. It's considered an immune mediated disease in which the body's immune system attacks its own tissues. In the case of MS , this immune system malfunction destroys the fatty substance that coats and protects nerve fibers in the brain and spinal cord (myelin).

Who is at high risk for MS?

Several studies have shown that obesity in childhood and adolescence, particularly in girls, increased the risk of later developing MS. Other studies have shown that obesity in early adulthood may also contribute to an increased risk of developing MS.

What are usually the first signs of MS?

Are you born with MS or does it develop?

Causes of multiple sclerosis

your genes – MS isn't directly inherited, but people who are related to someone with the condition are more likely to develop it; the chance of a sibling or child of someone with MS also developing it is estimated to be around 2 to 3 in 100.

What increases risk of MS?

Various environmental and lifestyle factors such as geography, vitamin D, smoking, and obesity have been shown to increase the risk of MS. Most MS patients are diagnosed between ages 20 and 50, and the disease is about three times more common in females than in males.

What causes multiple sclerosis?

What viruses can trigger MS?

The underlying cause of MS remains unknown. One possibility is that it's triggered by a viral infection. Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) has been among the top suspects.

What age do most people get MS?

At what age is MS usually diagnosed? Most people are diagnosed between the ages of 20 and 50, although MS can occur in young children and older adults.

Does MS show up in blood work?

Blood Tests: Currently, there are no definitive blood tests for diagnosing MS, but they can be used to rule out other conditions that may mimic MS symptoms, including Lyme disease, collagen-vascular diseases, rare hereditary disorders and acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS).

What vitamins should you avoid with MS?

High doses of other vitamins can antagonize your immune-modulating, immunosuppressive therapies used to manage MS. Supplements that stimulate the immune system should be avoided in high doses. Those include selenium, zinc, B1, B2, folic acid, B6, vitamin A, biotin, magnesium, copper, and manganese.

What part of the body does MS affect first?

Vision problems

In around 1 in 4 cases of MS, the first noticeable symptom is a problem with one of your eyes (optic neuritis). You may experience: some temporary loss of vision in the affected eye, usually lasting for days to weeks.

Where does MS usually start?

Here's where MS (typically) starts

Optic neuritis, or inflammation of the optic nerve, is usually the most common, Shoemaker says. You may experience eye pain, blurred vision and headache. It often occurs on one side and can eventually lead to partial or total vision loss.

How can I check myself for MS?

Does stress cause multiple sclerosis?

Although the person with MS knows from their experience that their MS symptoms started after or alongside a stressful period of time, there is no direct evidence that stress causes MS — although it might trigger it.

What state has the most MS cases?

According to a 2017 study published by Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) and Blue Health Intelligence (BHI), Syracuse, New York has the highest rate of MS.

What foods flare up MS?

Is Coffee good for MS?

The risk of MS is substantially reduced among those who reported a high consumption of coffee, exceeding 900 ml daily OR 0.70 (95% CI 0.49–0.99 in the Swedish study) and OR 0.69 (95% CI 0.5–0.96 in the US study). No significant association was found between coffee or caffeine intake and the risk of MS.

Can an eye test detect MS?

MS causes the immune system to attack nerve fibers and causes miscommunication between the brain and other parts of the body. When your optometrist detects optic nerve inflammation, that can indicate a diagnosis of MS.

Does an MRI show MS?

MRI plays a vital role in how we diagnose and monitor MS. In fact, over 90% of people have their MS diagnosis confirmed by MRI.

What is lupus vs MS?

They're both autoimmune diseases.

In MS, your own immune system attacks your nervous system by mistake and damages your nerves. In lupus, your immune system attacks healthy tissues like your skin, joints, kidneys, heart, or lungs. But it can also damage your nerves and brain.

What two parts of the body does MS affect?

In people with MS, the immune system attacks cells in the myelin, the protective sheath that surrounds nerves in the brain and spinal cord. Damage to the myelin sheath interrupts nerve signals from your brain to other parts of your body. The damage can lead to symptoms affecting your brain, spinal cord and eyes.

What is the life expectancy male with MS?

The average lifespan in the general population is shorter for men than women, and this also is generally true in MS. A 2017 analysis that assessed data for more than 1,000 MS patients across 60 years in Norway found that the median lifespan was 72.2 years for men with MS, and 78.9 years for those without the disease.

What happens if you don't treat multiple sclerosis?

With MS, when you don't stay with your treatment, there's the chance that the disease will continue unchecked. That means your immune system can go on causing inflammation and damage in your central nervous system. And “time is brain”: If there's damage, it can be permanent -- you may not get that function back.