walk ms birmingham
Post on 19-Mar-2016
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What is MS? Multiple sclerosis interrupts the flow of information between the brain
and the body and it stops people from moving. Every hour in the United States, someone is newly diagnosed with MS, an unpredictable, often
disabling disease of the central nervous system. Symptoms range from numbness and tingling to blindness and paralysis. The progress,
severity and specific symptoms of MS in any one person cannot yet be predicted, but advances in research and treatment are moving us closer to a world free of MS. Most people with MS are diagnosed between the
ages of 20 and 50.
Who gets MS? Anyone
may develop MS but
there are some
patterns.
Twice as many women as men have MS. Studies suggest that genetic factors make certain
individuals more susceptible than others, but there is no evidence that MS is directly inherited. It occurs more commonly among people with
northern European ancestry, but people of African, Asian, and Hispanic backgrounds are not immune.
What are the typical symptoms of MS?
Symptoms of MS are unpredictable and vary from person to person,
and from time to time. For example: One person may
experience abnormal fatigue and episodes of numbness and tingling. Another could have loss of balance and muscle coordination making walking difficult. Still another could have
slurred speech, tremors, stiffness, and bladder
problems. Sometimes major
symptoms disappear completely, and the person regains lost
functions. In severe MS, people have symptoms on
a permanent basis including partial or
complete paralysis, and difficulties with vision, cognition, speech, and
elimination.
Is there a cure? While a cure for MS
has not yet been discovered,
advances in research have yielded
treatments. Early and ongoing treatment
with an FDA- approved therapy
could make a difference for you if you have MS. Learn about your options by talking to your
health care professional and contacting the
National MS Society.
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