This Monday, May 30th, World Multiple Sclerosis Day is commemorated, a date that is used to teach around the planet about this disease, its symptoms, treatments and the fight against this condition.
According to the Colombian Association of Neurology, there are 1.3 million people in the world who suffer from this pathology, and although it is more common in Nordic countries, it occurs throughout the world.
It is estimated that in Latin America this disease affects 50,000 people, and specifically in Colombia, the figure is four cases of sclerosis per 100,000 inhabitants; that is, about 1,840 patients with this condition.
According to the Mayo Clinic, multiple sclerosis is a disease of the brain and spinal cord (central nervous system) that can cause disability.
They add that this diagnosis has as a characteristic that the immune system attacks the protective sheath (myelin) that covers the nerve fibers, and causes communication problems between the brain and the rest of the body. Over time, the disease can cause permanent nerve deterioration or damage.
“The signs and symptoms of multiple sclerosis vary greatly depending on the extent of the nerve damage and which nerves are affected.. Some people with severe multiple sclerosis may lose the ability to walk unassisted or walk completely, while others may experience long periods of remission without the appearance of any new symptoms.
Despite the fact that experts affirm that the symptoms of multiple sclerosis can change a lot depending on the location of the damage, the Mayo Clinic refers to some common ones, which affect movement:
- Numbness or weakness in one or more extremities that typically occurs on one side of the body at a time, or in the legs and trunk
- Electric shock sensations that occur with certain movements of the neck, especially bending the neck forward (Lhermitte’s sign)
- Tremors, lack of coordination, or unsteady gait
In addition, this pathology can manifest itself through some visual disorders, such as:
- Partial or complete loss of vision, usually in one eye at a time, often with pain when moving the eye
- prolonged double vision
- Blurry vision
Multiple sclerosis symptoms may also include:
- Slurred speech
- Fatigue
- dizziness
- Tingling or pain in different parts of the body
- Problems with sexual function, bowels, and bladder
Science has not yet been able to determine the origin of multiple sclerosis: “It is considered an autoimmune disease, in which the body’s immune system attacks its own tissues.” In the case of multiple sclerosis, this malfunction of the immune system destroys the fatty substance that covers and protects nerve fibers in the brain and spinal cord (myelin).
The following factors can increase the risk of having multiple sclerosis, according to the Clinic:
- Age. Multiple sclerosis can occur at any age, but its onset usually occurs between the ages of 20 and 40. However, younger and older people can be affected.
- Sex. Women are two to three times more likely than men to develop relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis.
- Family background. If one of a person’s parents or siblings had multiple sclerosis, the risk of that person having the disease is higher.
- Certain infections. Various viruses are associated with multiple sclerosis, including the Epstein-Barr virus, which causes infectious mononucleosis.
- Raza. White people, especially those of Northern European descent, are at higher risk for multiple sclerosis. People of Asian, African, or Native American descent are at least at risk.
- Climate. Multiple sclerosis is more common in countries with temperate climates, including Canada, the northern states of the United States, New Zealand, southeastern Australia, and Europe.
- Vitamina D. Lower levels of vitamin D and less exposure to sunlight are associated with an increased risk of multiple sclerosis.
- Certain autoimmune diseases. You have a slightly higher risk of developing multiple sclerosis if you have other autoimmune disorders, such as thyroid disease, pernicious anemia, psoriasis, type 1 diabetes, or inflammatory bowel disease.
- smoking. Smokers who experience an initial event of symptoms that could indicate multiple sclerosis are more likely than nonsmokers to experience a second event that confirms relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis.