MS 101: Facts About Multiple Sclerosis You May Not Be Aware Of

While there is not yet a cure for multiple sclerosis (MS), hundreds of thousands of people in America are living with it – approximately 400,000 people to be exact, and of that, as many as 86% list fatigue as the number one symptom of the disease. The cause of MS is not known; it is not contagious or known to be directly inherited, but factors that may play a role include:

  • Gender – Women are impacted more than two times as often as men
  • Age – The majority of people are diagnosed between the ages of 20 and 50
  • Geography – Most people with multiple sclerosis live in temperate environments
  • Ethnic background – Those with Caucasian origin are at a heightened risk

It is believed that multiple sclerosis symptoms result when an immune system attack affects myelin, the protective insulation encompassing nerve fibers of the central nervous system. For people with multiple sclerosis, myelin is destroyed and replaced by scars of hardened sclerotic tissue. Some underlying nerve fibers are permanently severed, and the damage manifests in multiple places within the central nervous system — providing the disease with its name.

While no cure for multiple sclerosis has been found yet, several FDA-approved drugs are accessible for the long-term treatment of MS. These meds have been shown to reduce the number and severity of MS flare-ups, and possibly delay progression of the disease. In addition, numerous therapeutic and technological advances are assisting those with MS to manage symptoms.

If you or a loved one with MS are in Cook, DuPage, Kane, Kendall, Lake, McHenry, Will, or other nearby counties in Illinois, contact Home & Hearth Caregivers to find out how our in-home caregivers can help a person with MS to feel enabled, motivated and connected to others. Feel free to call us anytime at 800-349-0663, or fill out our online contact form to ask us any questions, request a brochure, or to schedule a free in-home assessment.

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800-349-0663
708-352-4663
630-654-4663
847-698-8200
Corporate Address:
6432 Joliet Road
Countryside, IL
60525

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