“More than 400,000 people in the United States and about 2.5 million people around the world have MS,” stated by the Multiple Sclerosis Foundation.
MS stands for Multiple Sclerosis, which is “an autoimmune disease that affects the central nervous system”, defined by healthline.com. Most people have never heard of this disease or don’t know what it does to the body. The month of March has been labeled MS awareness month, where we can learn more about this disease. Most cases do not consist of the same side effects and some cases can be more serious than others. The body becomes extremely vulnerable to simple illnesses that can affect a person with MS seriously. The body’s immune system is weaker and takes longer to recover simple injuries or illnesses. By educating yourself and others’ knowledge of the Multiple Sclerosis disease, it could lead to more contributions to finding a cure.
Every year there is an MS walk presented by the National MS Society. The walk takes place in over 550 locations, which are listed on the National MS Society website. The MS Walk started in 1988 and has over 330,000 people participating each year. The money raised is used for research and support. To get involved in the walk, join/create a team, or learn more about Multiple sclerosis, visit their website and spread the awareness during this awareness month!
The Health Line website provides information about MS, providing a list of most and least common symptoms:
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fatigue
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vision problems
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tingling and numbness
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vertigo and dizziness
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muscle weakness and spasms
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problems with balance and coordination
Other, less common, symptoms include:
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speech and swallowing problems
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cognitive dysfunction
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difficulty walking
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bladder and bowel dysfunction
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sexual dysfunction
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mood swings, depression
No two people have the same combination of MS symptoms. There is no cure yet, but educating yourself and spreading awareness is the first step towards the goal.
*This article is dedicated to my Aunt Jackie who is a current fighter of MS.