Multiple sclerosis or MS is a long-lasting disease of the central nervous system affecting the optic nerves in the eyes, the spinal cord, and the brain. It can cause issues and difficulties with balance, vision, muscle control and other body functions. In multiple sclerosis, the body’s own immune system attacks myelin, which is the protective sheath that covers the nerve fibers, which in turn affects the way the brain communicates with the body. Over time, the disease can cause the nerves to degenerate or become damaged permanently and has no cure.

Multiple sclerosis has a disease course that follows a cycle that is relapse-remitting in nature. Thus, the patients end up experiencing periods of new signs, symptoms or deteriorations which end up taking many days or weeks and usually improve only partially or completely. Disease remission follows these relapses and can last for months or even years.

Doctors are yet to figure out the cause for multiple sclerosis but there are many risk factors that seem to make the disease more likely. Some of them are:

• It commonly affects people between the ages of 15 and 60
• If one of your parents or siblings has had multiple sclerosis
• Smoking
• Women (2x more likely than men)
• Some viruses have been linked to multiple sclerosis, like the Epstein-Barr virus
• MS is far commoner in countries with temperate climates, including some parts of Australia, New Zealand, Europe, and Canada
• Certain autoimmune diseases thyroid disease or type 1 diabetes can leave you with a higher risk of getting multiple sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis has many symptoms and they vary depending on the amount of nerve damage and the type of nerves that are affected. While some unfortunate people with severe multiple sclerosis can lose the ability to walk, others may experience periods of remission without showing any new symptoms. Let us take a look at some of the common ones:

• Weakness or numbness in the trunk or one or more limbs which generally occurs on one side of your body at a time
• Double vision and inability to focus
• Complete or partial loss of sight, usually one eye at a time, coupled with pain occurring when one moves the eye electric-shock sensations that occur with certain neck movements like bending it forward
• Pain in various parts of your body
• Tremors, lack of balance or unsteady gait
• Slurred speech
• Problems with bowel and bladder function

Since there aren’t any exact tests for multiple sclerosis, a differential diagnosis is required to rule out other conditions which could elicit similar symptoms and signs. The doctor may request for blood tests, lumbar punctures, MRIs, and evoked potential tests (to check the electrical signs produced by the nervous system while responding to a stimulus) to reach a final conclusion.

There is no cure for multiple sclerosis. Instead, doctors focus on hastening recovery from attacks, managing the symptoms and slowing the progression of the disease. Lifestyle changes, home remedies, and alternative therapy are also used to manage the symptoms of multiple sclerosis. Exercising, avoiding exposure to heat, eating a balanced diet, getting enough rest and also practicing stress release techniques like yoga, tai chi, meditation and deep breathing may also help.