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Multiple Sclerosis is an illness that affects the immune system. The body attacks itself and breaks down the myelin sheath that surrounds to nerve fibres. The myelin sheath is like the insulation around a wire. If the insulation is broken down then the signals will not get to the muscle. It is like an electrical short circuit. As the illness progresses, more of the sheath is broken down. This results in the muscles not receiving the signals from the brain an eventually cease to work. The cause of multiple sclerosis are not known precisely at present. The general trend is that the nearer to the equator, the fewer the incidences of the illness. It is thought that exposure to sunlight has a positive effect because it increases the amount of vitamin D the body gets. There are several types of multiple sclerosis and I will explain them here. Relapses and Remissions.This is usually the first form of the illness that someone gets. In this stage the person leads a normal life but every so often they experience a relapse, where the signals to the muscle get disrupted. In this situation the person might experience symptoms like double vision, pins and needles, numbness or problems with balance. This can go on for a few weeks before the body gets back to the way it was. After a period of time the person can have another relapse. As these relapses continue, permanent disability can occur. These disabilities do not disappear. After several years of relapses, you can enter into the secondary progressive phase. Secondary Progressive.When this stage is reached, any damage caused by the illness does not cure it self. The person becomes more disabled as as their life progresses. They can lose the ability to walk, or only walk short distances. They can lose the use of their limbs, speech and sight. Primary Progressive.This is a more acute form of the illness. It can leave you unable to walk within a year or less. Other symptoms of Multiple Sclerosis can include loss of sexual function, bowl and bladder problems, constant pain in the muscles and general tiredness. There is no know cure for the illness, but there are things that can be done to relieve the symptoms. These include having a healthy diet, making sure that you get sufficient quantities of vitamins such as B12 and D. You should also ensure that getting your supply of the the omega oils. Make sure that you do not get too hot and that you do not wear yourself out. 2011-11-04
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