Multiple Sclerosis – Causes, Symptoms and Types

Multiple sclerosis is a disease that each area of the brains and spinal cord can affect. Multiple sclerosis does not affect the nerve cells. Multiple sclerosis affects transmission of electrical signals to nerve cells. Multiple sclerosis is the most common cause of chronic neurological disability in young adults. Multiple sclerosis is not contagious.

This is most clearly visible in the physical demyelization of the nerve membranes and the many symptoms of an impaired function of the nervous system that accompanies MS. According to Ayurvedic theory, functional fashion in the body called Vata controls the overall level of balance and activation of the nervous system. MS is a classic from this perspective Vata imbalance.

Causes

Multiple sclerosis is an autoimmune disorder, meaning the cause is an attack by the body's own defense mechanisms. For unknown reasons, attacks the immune cells and destroy the myelin sheath that insulates neurons in the brains and spinal cord. This myelin sheath, created by other brain cells called glia, speeds transmission and prevents electrical shorting activity in a cell to another cell. Disruption of communication between brains and other parts of the body prevent normal passage of sensations and control messages, leading to symptoms of MS. The demyelinated areas appear as plaques, small round areas of gray neuron without the white myelin covering.

Symptoms

Symptoms of multiple sclerosis may be single or multiple and can vary from mild to severe in intensity and short to long term. Complete or partial relief from symptoms occurs early in about 70% of patients with multiple sclerosis.

Visual disturbances, the first symptoms of multiple sclerosis, but they usually decline. A patient may experience visual disturbances, red-green distortion (color desaturation), or sudden blindness monocular (blindness to one eye). Muscle weakness with or without problems with coordination and balance may occur early. Muscle spasms, fatigue, numbness, tingling and pain are common symptoms.

Diet

Since diet can contain high levels of polyunsaturated fatty acids, a good intake of vitamin E, vitamin B6, zinc and vitamin C are needed. Vitamin E is the most important antioxidant that helps prevent peroxidation of polyunsaturated fatty acids and vitamin C helps to protect vitamin E. Zinc and Vitamin B6 is a part of the enzyme delta-6 desaturase involved in the conversion of linoleic acid (found in polyunsaturated fats and oils) in the long chain derivatives.

Types of MS

There are four types of MS and recover any different.

Benign MS

With this type you have a couple of relapse (times when your symptoms flare up) and then recover. But you have very little or no symptoms in about 15 years before diagnosis can be made.

Secondary progressive

Secondary progressive describes approximately 80% of the original people with relapsing - remitting MS, who then start to decline between their acute neurological attacks without periods of remission. This decline may include new neurologic symptoms, worsening cognitive function or other deficits. Secondary progressive is the most common form of MS and causes the greatest degree of disability.

Relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis

Approximately 80 percent of people with MS, it begins as a relapsing remitting and condition. This means that you have relapses followed by periods of remission when your symptoms better.