Starting in 2003, March became designated as the MS Month used to promote awareness of MS. The state of Florida held the first ever campaign for Multiple Sclerosis Month in the city of Ft. Lauderdale. This city also happens to be where the Multiple Sclerosis Foundation has its headquarters. Since this initial campaign, MS Awareness Month activities, events, and gatherings have popped up all over the US. MS is a disease with many symptoms that aren’t visible, yet it can still become a severely debilitating disease. The scope of Multiple Sclerosis is broad, leaving a lot of unanswered questions for many people, especially those who aren’t directly connected with MS.

Anyone who wishes to get involved with promoting MS awareness during the month of March can do so by contacting the Multiple Sclerosis Foundation.  Awareness Kits are available from MSF for free. These can be used to enable people to …

Putting in a search on the Internet for MS forums will most likely provide you with a few leads in a couple of seconds. These can be extremely useful for people who were newly diagnosed with MS or for those who have been battling the disease for decades. A forum generally consists of individuals with something in common and in this case it would be Multiple Sclerosis.

Forums aimed at attracting people with MS are perfect for being a central location to ask questions, post concerns, or chat with others who know what you are going through. The great thing about an online forum is that you don’t have to leave the house to talk to friends, find the answer to a question, or if you are having a difficult time with mobility and you are physically unable to travel far from home.

People on forums for MS will post …

Doctors first take into consideration how to diagnose MS through a series of symptoms a patient provides. There are more than 50 symptoms associated with Multiple Sclerosis, but a large number of them are also very similar to those seen in other diseases as well. Due to the similarities, it takes time for a doctor to rule out a number of other illnesses to make sure the symptoms being noted are in fact connected to MS. Some symptoms require the attention of a neurologist, so a doctor may refer a patient to a neurologist before making any diagnoses.

Unfortunately, there isn’t a quick blood test available to diagnose MS right way. The number of tests used for patients suspected of having Multiple Sclerosis is tedious and normally not completed in a single day. Once a doctor makes note of all symptoms described by the patient, this list is checked against …

Doctors define MS as a chronic autoimmune disorder, but patients define Multiple Sclerosis in other ways. Upon receiving a positive diagnosis of MS, some people take it in stride, while others lash out at the news as if they have just been handed a death sentence. The initial diagnosis is usually instigated because of certain symptoms a person is noticing. These can come and go over a period of many years; never increasing in intensity or disability. With more than 50 symptoms attached to Multiple Sclerosis, any number can manifest at one time. One person might exhibit only one or two mild symptoms and another person could have 5 or 6 severe symptoms. Everyone is different, so the disease affects each body differently too.

Symptoms of MS include; blurred vision, blindness in one eye, red-green color distortion, numbness in arms and legs or even the face, tingling, difficulty walking, poor …

Being diagnosed with MS leads most people to question what is Multiple Sclerosis, so they know what to expect. Knowing what is MS disease includes learning about the cause, symptoms, and how to deal with it. MS is a complicated disease in many ways. First of all, it is difficult to diagnose, due to the plethora of symptoms and how each is very similar to those displayed in other diseases. An onset of MS symptoms is usually the reason a diagnosis is sought in the first place. The reasons for each symptom have to do with the way the immune system reacts within the body.

Instead of battling infections, bacteria, viruses, or other illnesses, the white blood cells begin attacking healthy nerve cells instead. As more and more damage is done to the myelin sheath on these cells, inflammation occurs and lesions are formed. An MRI scan makes it …

MS support groups are a much needed part of the MS community. Not only are these groups the perfect place to meet others who are living with the same disease as you, but they have access to an abundance of information as well. Whether you are looking for ways to find assistive equipment, modified activities for individuals with limited mobility, or reading material about MS, support groups can point you in the right direction.

A doctor will usually supply details on where to find an MS group near you upon diagnosis with MS. Depending on the size of the city you live in, the group might meet daily, weekly, or only on occasion. If you are unable to leave home easily, there is the option to join MS support groups online instead. You might not be able to meet in person with everyone in the group, but it is still …

The most common symptoms of MS in women don’t vary much from those seen in men and there are both early and late signs of MS in women. This means they emerge at an early stage of the disease or wait until the MS has progressed. Early on, the most common signs include double vision or blurred eyesight, weak limbs, loss of balance, numbness or tingling of extremities. Some signs not commonly seen, but still able to present themselves early in the disease include; lack of coordination, difficulty thinking, slurred speech, or sudden paralysis.

The more Multiple Sclerosis progresses, the more signs and symptoms of MS in women there will be. Fatigue is common among MS patients, especially as the disease causes more damage. Sensitivity to heat is another symptom felt. In some cases, the person with MS needs to wear a cooling vest to lower the body temperature and …

There isn’t a single MS guide book to follow when you have Multiple Sclerosis. It would be handy if there were. Consulting a Multiple Sclerosis guide book would be an excellent way to get answers to all your questions about MS without searching multiple places. Instead, an abundance of MS resources are supplied by the National MS Society, the MS Foundation, and individual chapters placed around the world.

During an initial diagnosis, most MS patients obtain an assortment of info from their doctor; pamphlets, lists of support groups, locations where information is readily accessible, and details on any medications prescribed. Your doctor is actually an excellent source for MS info and the perfect person to ask questions to. If you are unable to contact your doctor directly and instead of trying to remember the questions you had in mind, information on MS can be collected from other sources as well.…

Searching online gives you many options for MS book titles in a matter of seconds. You can choose from these Multiple Sclerosis book selections and check them out before making a purchase on most sites. Buying them online enables you to have them delivered right to your mailbox as well. The ability to shop from home for MS resources is an excellent option for individuals who have limited mobility. There are still plenty of sites offering books on MS for free, which is a huge money-saver. Websites geared towards providing MS patients with an endless supply of information on every aspect are a good place to start looking for free materials.

Usually you need to sign up to become a member to use the lending library, but the material is still offered to anyone who needs it. The loaning of materials is generally free, but sometimes shipping costs might be …

An MS research foundation is completely non-profit and collects funds to aid in finding a cure for MS. Any MS research center can be found online, if you wish to donate time or money to its cause. The goal of most foundations is to raise as much money as possible to go towards researching MS to find a cure. Generally, all donated funds go towards research; 100 percent. The workers at the foundation are all volunteers, in order to enable donations to be put completely towards MS research. A number of foundations are set up for a person who struggled with Multiple Sclerosis and lost the battle. There are some centers created by the loved ones of a person with MS in hopes a cure will be found soon.

As for events, some funds are necessary for getting things rolling, but the foundation usually receives most of what it needs …

Mono, or the Epstein-Barr virus, is sometimes thought of as the MS virus to people. There is no actual Multiple Sclerosis virus, per say, yet researchers have found that quite a large percentage of MS patients had mono at some point in their life. It has yet to be proven that the Epstein-Barr virus actually causes MS, but it is thought to play a role in raising the risk of being diagnosed with MS.

Mono is known as the ‘kissing disease’, since it is often transferred from one person to another via saliva. It’s difficult to know exactly when it was contracted, due to the lengthy incubation period; an average of 25 days. Symptoms commonly shown include; sore throat, fever, and swollen lymph nodes in the neck. Most people feel extremely tired while they are infected and sometimes up to quite a few months after the symptoms have subsided. …

The Multiple Sclerosis Resource Centre supplies UK residents with the latest news about MS research, emotional support, informative pamphlets, insurance services, an eNewsletter, and numerous ways to get involved with the Multiple Sclerosis Resource Center. They have an immeasurable collection of links for all sorts of MS resources and info, such as recipes, computer software and accessible technology, equipment and gadgets, accessible holidays, tai chi and yoga classes, and dietary supplements. They are truly an excellent MS resource hub for people diagnosed with MS, caregivers, or anyone who has a friend or family member with MS.

A 24-hour support line is available to anyone needing advice or just someone to talk to. Individuals looking for a great Multiple Sclerosis resource will find it within the MSRC. Chatting with other MS patients is also possible through the website for this organization, as well as sharing information, news, etc. with others via …

MS books are sold in bookstores, housed in libraries, loaned out by MS organizations, and available to download off of the net at a moment’s notice. Topics Multiple Sclerosis books cover are broad, so they make an excellent resource for anyone interested in finding out more about MS. These books aren’t only important to those with the disease, but also to loved ones and caregivers of individuals who have been diagnosed with MS. Books are valuable sources of information that can be used as a resource at any time.

Books about Multiple Sclerosis are written by researchers, scientists, doctors, individuals with MS, and people who have been caregivers to family members with MS. The topic covered tends to determine who the book is written by. If you are looking for accurate information, make sure the author of the MS book you are looking into buying is written by someone who …

Multiple Sclerosis is an incurable disease that has the potential to progress to Advanced MS rather quickly, if left unattended. The presence of Advanced Multiple Sclerosis brings about many challenges, as well as additional concerns. Some cases of MS progress to the point where the individual is unable to maintain mobility. This is the point in life when independence and control need to be redefined. It can be a difficult moment for anyone with MS, but people who were once extremely active tend to take it the hardest.

Recognizing the need to make changes and accept these changes graciously is arduous, but necessary. MS advances as more nerve cells get attacked by the immune system. The more damage done to these nerves, the less mobility the person will have. The body can only take so much before it will need outside assistance to enable it to become mobile once again. …

Help for MS patients comes in many forms. One of the ways people diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis can remain healthy is through nutrition. Diets for MS patients don’t include the fad diets many people follow. People with MS should stick to a low-fat, high-fiber diet. Eating nutritious foods keeps the body in good health, which will in turn prevent the immune system from turning against the body. It would be helpful to meet with a dietitian or a nutritionist to get a menu suited for MS patients.

The Swank Diet is a diet that is especially devised for MS patients and has actually proven to slow the progression of MS. Dr. Swank performed research for 50 years and utilized the assistance of around 5,000 people to finally come up with a diet that is beneficial for MS patients. The best thing about this low-fat diet is anyone is able to …

Only around 5 percent of the population of MS patients includes children. MS in kids tends to show in those younger than 16 years old, but many doctors feel there are children who go undiagnosed for years. Multiple Sclerosis in kids manifests differently than in adults and often starts as ADEM (acute disseminated encephalomyelitis), which is generally recovered from in 1 to 6 months. This disease is considered to be one of the many borderline MS diseases, due to the similarity between it and MS.

Both ADEM and MS include the demyelination of nerve cells. However, more than half of the children who recover from ADEM have some type of mild disability present. It is by far less severe than MS and it isn’t as progressive as Multiple Sclerosis either. Kids under the age of 12 who are diagnosed with MS tend to be male. A change in this number …

Multiple Sclerosis is usually a disease adults are afflicted with, but MS in children is all that uncommon. Multiple Sclerosis in Children might show itself differently than it does in adults. Most children are diagnosed with ADEM, or acute disseminated encephalomyelitis, before they ever have MS. ADEM is a disease of the brain and sometimes occurs after a vaccination has been received. Other cases of ADEM manifest following a parasitic or bacterial infection. Of course there are also instances where ADEM spontaneously appears in children.

This disease is considered to be one out of a handful of borderline MS diseases that exist. ADEM is most commonly seen in children between the ages of 5 and 8. The good news about this disease is most children fully recover. There tend to be mild residual disabilities once the disease is no longer present and recovery time is around 1 to 6 months.…

Technology changes on a daily basis and most people about popular gadgets hitting the market. One advancement is the eBook. You can find any subject even a Multiple Sclerosis eBook. Topics include understanding MS, how to overcome it, battling depression, advancements in MS research, and personal accounts from others with Multiple Sclerosis. Besides being an excellent resource for someone just diagnosed with MS, eBooks have many additional benefits.

You can read an eBook over and over again without worrying about it wearing out. It’s quicker to produce an eBook than it is a paper or hardback book since there’s no printing or binding involved. These books are transported digitally as well, so there’s no fuel spent on shipping. People are able to access eBooks right from home, which is definitely a huge plus for those with advanced MS who have limited mobility. An eBook also won’t get misplaced around …

Hearing the latest on MS research findings doesn’t always happen easily. Unless you are part of a support group, subscribe to MS publications, or request the latest on Multiple Sclerosis from an MS website, you might not hear about a particular finding right away. It’s always beneficial to keep on top of what’s happening in the world of MS research. Learning about new and improved drugs or techniques might help you with a current issue you are facing with this autoimmune disease.

When you visit your doctor for a regular check-up, most doctors will tell patients about any new MS research being conducted. It doesn’t hurt to ask for this information either if the doctor doesn’t offer it up front. Getting fresh data is helpful in learning of any medications, procedures, or other advancements being made in the world of Multiple Sclerosis research.

The National Multiple Sclerosis Society website is …

T-cells in people with Multiple Sclerosis cause more than 50 symptoms. These cells in MS cause the immune system to attack nerve cells, which in turn reduces mobility, cognitive function, vision, speech, and a number of other bodily functions. The body is supposed to fight infection by sending T-cells, white blood cells, to attack the foreign bodies causing the illness, not wage war on the body itself. As the nerve cells are attacked, their myelin sheath is stripped off, thus reducing the efficiency of the electrical impulses being sent between the brain and body. When the brain and body cannot communicate effectively, signals tend to get lost.

Areas where the myelin sheath has been damaged show up as lesions, or scars. The locations of these scars depict the type of symptoms a person with MS will experience. For instance, scars on the spinal cord will cause problems with muscle movement …

The occurrence of MS in men is nearly half that of the number of women diagnosed with MS each year, yet Multiple Sclerosis in men is more likely to pass this disease to offspring. Men are taught at a young age to be the provider of the family and to be strong. Receiving a diagnosis that Multiple Sclerosis is present can be a blow to any man’s self-esteem.

This disease progresses at different rates in each person. Some might experience limited mobility within a few months, while this characteristic of MS is delayed for years in others. Men who can no longer be as independent as they once were tend to take it rather hard. Some even become depressed about their condition and seek medical help to combat this feeling.

Multiple Sclerosis generally strikes a person between the ages of 20 and 40 years old. For most men, these are …

The foods you eat play an important role in managing how you feel. Patients following an MS diet have a number of choices in diet plans, books, and resources for menus geared towards people with MS. The MS diet you choose doesn’t have to be a fancy one that causes added expense. The Swank MS diet is perfect for those who are looking for a complete resource to improve nutrition and adjust eating habits to benefit not only their body, but also their MS symptoms.

Dr Roy Swank came up with a low-fat diet that helps MS patients. It was first introduced in 1948 and has been a successful change in nutrition for many people with MS. 144 patients were monitored over a 34 year span and the results were positive for the MS patients who actually followed this MS diet plan.  The condition of those who followed the plan …

If you or your doctor suspects MS to be the reason you are experiencing certain symptoms, then a Multiple Sclerosis diagnosis is necessary. Unfortunately there isn’t a quick and easy test to see if this disease is present. In order to check for MS, the doctor has to go through a series of Multiple Sclerosis diagnosis criteria. You’ll need to write down the symptoms you are experiencing, complete with starting date and duration time. This list should be presented to your doctor for the initial part of the diagnosis.

Upon looking at the list of symptoms, some of the criteria for MS will also be considered. Though there are more than 50 symptoms associated with Multiple Sclerosis, not all are present or of the same severity in each person.

How Multiple Sclerosis Diagnosis Symptoms Change

The Multiple Sclerosis diagnosis treatment will depend on the type of MS you …

MS is extremely difficult to diagnose with one test alone. Also, a single MS testing method doesn’t exist for diagnosing MS. A number of different Multiple Sclerosis testing techniques are used and the process of elimination is put into effect to rule out other diseases. For instance, a blood test will rule out viruses, inflammatory diseases, and other infectious illnesses that appear to be very similar to MS in their list of signs and symptoms.

A lumbar puncture, or spinal tap as it is sometimes referred to, is used to eliminate viral infections that cause white blood cells to increase in numbers, which also occurs in MS. These proteins are contained in a sample of cerebrospinal fluid taken from the lower portion of the spine. When the number of white blood cells increases, neurological symptoms can arise and appear to be the start of Multiple Sclerosis.

MRIs are often the …

People who haven’t quite felt themselves lately tend to wonder why. Most will brush off the idea of seeing a doctor for an MS diagnosis and attribute whatever they are feeling to being a bit ‘under the weather’. Some symptoms of MS are similar to those experienced by the flu or from overworking the body, which is why people don’t automatically assume they have Multiple Sclerosis and schedule a doctor’s appointment.

There are around 50 symptoms MS diagnosis tests will check for. Check a list of MS symptoms and make a note of which ones you are exhibiting. Any of these symptoms can come and go, so be sure to write down the date they manifest and the date they subside. The doctor will be able to use these notes for the MS diagnosis tests.

MS Diagnosis Criteria

Doctors follow a set of criteria when beginning a diagnosis …

Living with MS doesn’t come easy to everyone. People who are newly diagnosed should read up on living with Multiple Sclerosis, learn all about it, and what the future holds. Knowing what to expect in the years to come is much more comforting than sitting back and waiting to see what happens. Your doctor will be able to discuss the various treatment options available and what steps to take next to help you adjust your lifestyle.

Altering your diet and incorporating an exercise program into your daily routine is also a good way to maintain your health. Since MS is an autoimmune disease, any boost you can giver your immune system will be beneficial to you now and in the long run.

Locating a living with MS blog is a good way to locate information you can use. A number of such blogs can be found on the web. …

A lack of communication between the brain and the body is one of the main causes of Multiple Sclerosis. As for the causes of MS symptoms, the location of lesions is what dictates the types of symptoms displayed. The brain and the body are unable to communicate with one another when the myelin sheath is damaged on the outside of nerve cells. MS is an autoimmune disease, which means the immune system attacks the body and causes damage. Sometimes the myelin sheath can repair itself, if the damage is minimal. The outer covering on nerve cells is how signals are transmitted back and forth between the body and the brain, once these signals are no longer able to be received; a number of bodily functions are compromised.

MRI scans can locate current and past damage to nerve cells, but sometimes the disease must be present for quite some time …

A large city has its positive moments, such as when MS groups are needed for support. A person who’s recently been diagnosed with MS can seek out Multiple Sclerosis groups for camaraderie and encouragement when it’s needed most. These groups enable people with MS to band together and support one another through tough times, cheer each other on during grand achievements, and there to lend an ear during any time of the day.

Asking your doctor about local MS groups is a good place to start when searching for a nearby support group. You can also check places around town where public notices are displayed, in the newspaper, or ask friends if they know of any MS group meeting in your area.

There is always the option of using the Internet for exploring MS groups. Online support groups can be just as effective as ones that meet each week in …

There’s confirmation every day that money can’t buy anything you want, even your health. Famous people with MS are verifiable proof that Multiple Sclerosis will strike even the rich and famous; it doesn’t care. Celebrities are still human, so many of them react to being diagnosed with MS the same way any person would. There are always questions about what to expect, concerns about the future and employment, and a thirst for knowledge about MS.

The main difference between a famous person having MS and a non-celebrity is that the person with fame is able to utilize the limelight. A number of famous individuals share their experience with Multiple Sclerosis and the public turns into a giant support group. Even celebrities need encouragement that MS doesn’t mean the end is near. It does mean major changes will take place and their daily life will need to be adjusted, but MS …