You may have heard of women suffering or dying from multiple sclerosis, a disease in which the immune system attacks the central nervous system and causes physical and cognitive disability. It affects the brain and the spinal cord, destroying cells responsible for helping myelin, the neurons that create electrical signals sent to the brain.
Though not quite prevalent in the Philippines, multiple sclerosis is a disease that requires awareness among Filipino women, especially since studies have shown that women are more likely to suffer from the disease. Here are some quick facts about multiple sclerosis.
- MS was discovered in the 1870s, but the treatment for the disease was not developed until the 1990s.
- MS can have a variety of symptoms such as fatigue, blurred vision, dizziness, slurred speech, and loss of bladder control.
- MS is more prevalent in cold countries.
- The disease may be dormant for some time or progress steadily, depending on the treatment on the patient.
- MS is treatable. One breakthrough for the treatment of MS is Betaferon, which can cure relapsing forms of MS. It can also decrease the number of relapses, increase the length of time between attacks, and decrease the severity of attacks.
The exact cause and pattern of the disease is unknown, which makes diagnosis of MS difficult. Nevertheless, should you encounter common symptoms, it is best to consult a neurologist right away so that the disease can be treated. If left untreated, MS patients may develop severe disabilities leading to paralysis.
For more information on Multiple Sclerosis, contact the MS Society at 726-1630.
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