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What is it?
Multiple Sclerosis is
an autoimmune disease in
which an overzealous
immune system turns
against itself and eats
away or creates
(lesions) in the Myelin
sheath that protects the
brain and spinal cord.
It is a degenerative
disease that affects the
central nervous system,
the brain, the optic
nerve and the spinal
cord. The name Multiple
Sclerosis literally
means multiple lesions,
and it is these lesions
that prevent signals
from the body from
getting to the brain the
lesions are caused by
the disintegration of
the myelin and the
lesion that forms around
the area. These lesions
distort or stop the
messages from reaching
the brain, causing
balance problems, eye
problems, bladder
problems, and may
produce slurred speech
or a loss in vision and
or loss of the ability
to walk. The disease can
either be chronic
progressive or relapsing
remitting; relapsing
remitting is exactly
what it sounds like,
symptoms appear and
disappear. The period of
remission can last for
years before another
exacerbation occurs.
Sometimes people are in
wheelchairs within a
year of diagnosis,
(usually due to
progressive disease), or
a slow decline can occur
over several decades.
Stress and heat are two
of the known factors
that can bring about an
attack, so it is best
that a person with MS
try to stay calm and
cool, perhaps even
finding a psychologist
who can help them accept
the disease path and
learn how to manage
their disease and
symptoms.
No one understands
exactly what causes MS.
It used to be thought that this
did not happen to young
people. We know
that MS usually DOES
strike between the ages
of 25-40. Some of the
previous theories have
been that MS is caused
by rubella that mutates
in the body, or perhaps
from Mercury poisoning
from the fillings that
were used in the 1950's
as they bind to DNA
cells and cell
membranes. MS patients
have been found to have
higher levels of Mercury
than those who do not
have MS. Some other
theories include diet as
MS is fairly common in
the united States and
Europe, but is almost
unheard of in Japan,
Korea, and China. The
diets of Westerners
(alcohol, saturated fats
and cholesterol) all
lead to the production
of prostaglandin2 which
increases the
inflammatory response
and makes MS worse.
People in Asian
countries also tend to
consume much more
Omega-3 fish oil and
seeds and fruits, all of
which have an inhibitory
effect on the
inflammatory response of
the body. Another key
clue is that many MS
patients tend to report
a decrease in symptoms,
and overall a general
better feeling during
pregnancy, a time when a
woman's immune system is
naturally turned down by
the body in order to
carry and nurture the
foreign fetus in it's
body for 9 months.
Another curious fact is
that MS tends to strike
people much more often
who live along the 37th
parallel that exists all
across the Untied States
from East to West coast.
Diagnosis is very
tricky as the symptoms
can also indicate many
other problems. One sure
way is to do and MRI
study of the spine and
brain to look for the
telltale lesions that go
along with the disease.
Is there a Cure?
Perhaps one day with
the advent of embryonic
stem cell research, but
for now it is about
maintaining the health
you do have and avoiding
setting off any
exacerbations. Diet is
thought to help some and
it .is best to eat all
organic foods with no
chemicals as the true
trigger of MS is not yet
known. Eat plenty of
dark leafy vegetables
for the vitamin K.
Coenzyme Q10 helps to
support the immune
system. Valerian root
will help to prevent
insomnia, regular visits
to your urologist can
help prevent bladder and
kidney trouble. Eat
plenty of pickles,
alfalfa sprouts. Stay
away from chocolate,
alcohol, coffee, barley,
meat, wheat or processed
foods. Take a fiber
supplement to avoid
constipation that often
happens to MS patients,
as well as saturated
fats, oils that have
been subjected to heat.
Lastly have yourself
checked for food
allergies who some
believe are responsible
for the development and
progression of MS. Last
but not least AVOID
STRESS and ANXIETY or
exposure to heat or hot
baths or showers. Be
sure to get regular
massages to keep you
muscles pliable and
working and exercise
regularly. IF you feel
an attack coming on take
2 days of complete bed
rest in an attempt to
ward off a full blown
attack, it often works.
If all else fails there
is medicine such as beta
and alpha interferon,
and copaxone, but they
have some side effects
such as depression or
flu like symptoms. Last
but not least
corticosteroids or
anti-rejection drugs can
be used to stop a severe
episode, but they too
have side effects.
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