Multiple Sclerosis
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a nervous system disease that affects your brain and spinal cord.
Signs & Symptoms
Symptoms may include:
Risk Factors
These factors may increase your risk of developing multiple sclerosis:
Complications
People with MS also may develop:
Communicable / Non-communicable
Non-communicable
Signs & Symptoms
Symptoms may include:
- Numbness or weakness in one or more limbs
- typically occurs on one side of your body at a time, or the legs and trunk
- Partial or complete loss of vision
- usually in one eye at a time
- often with pain during eye movement
- usually in one eye at a time
- Prolonged double vision
- Tingling or pain in parts of your body
- Electric-shock sensations that occur with certain neck movements
- Tremor, lack of coordination or unsteady gait
- Slurred speech
- Fatigue
- Dizziness
- Problems with bowel and bladder function
Risk Factors
These factors may increase your risk of developing multiple sclerosis:
- most commonly affects people between the ages of 15 and 60
- Women are about twice as likely as men are to develop MS
- Parent or sibling who has had MS
- White people, particularly those of Northern European descent, are at highest risk of developing MS.
- People of Asian, African or Native American descent have the lowest risk
- MS is far more common in countries with temperate climates
- Canada, the northern United States, New Zealand, southeastern Australia and Europe
- You have a slightly higher risk of developing MS if you have:
- thyroid disease
- type 1 diabetes
- inflammatory bowel disease
- thyroid disease
- Smokers
Complications
People with MS also may develop:
- Muscle stiffness or spasms
- Paralysis, typically in the legs
- Problems with bladder, bowel or sexual function
- Mental changes, such as forgetfulness or mood swings
- Depression
- Epilepsy
Communicable / Non-communicable
Non-communicable