| The symptomatic spectrum of multiple sclerosis can | | | | Considering the fact that the symptoms of multiple |
| be very diverse, involving different manifestations | | | | sclerosis are various and at certain stages of the |
| according to the affected body regions. Multiple | | | | disease unspecific, multiple sclerosis can't be |
| sclerosis is an inflammatory neurological disease, | | | | diagnosed only upon clinical manifestations. Multiple |
| causing dysfunctions mainly at the level of the central | | | | sclerosis is usually diagnosed upon laboratory tests, |
| nervous system. Due to the fact that multiple | | | | blood analyses and elaborate neurological |
| sclerosis affects the nervous system, people with | | | | examinations. |
| this form of neurological disease can in time | | | | Common, generalized symptoms of multiple sclerosis |
| experience symptoms in most innervated regions of | | | | are: pronounced fatigue, body weakness, sensations |
| the body. | | | | of tingling, burning, pain, itching and numbness of the |
| An estimated number of over 2 million people | | | | muscles, loss of dexterity and uncoordinated body |
| worldwide suffer from multiple sclerosis, while in the | | | | movement. Other physical symptoms of multiple |
| United States the disease affects around 350.000 | | | | sclerosis are: decreased vision, loss of mobility, |
| people. For some reason, multiple sclerosis | | | | shaking, spasms, tremors, poor balance, dizziness, |
| predominantly affects the female gender. Although | | | | vertigo. In later stages of the disease, the symptoms |
| the disease can also be developed by men, multiple | | | | of multiple sclerosis can include partial paralysis, renal |
| sclerosis is very common in women. Another | | | | and gastrointestinal dysfunctions. |
| interesting characteristic of multiple sclerosis is that it | | | | Neuropsychological symptoms of multiple sclerosis are: |
| commonly affects young people. The disease has the | | | | mental confusion; altered, inaccurate perceptions; |
| highest incidence in people with ages between 20 and | | | | poor concentration; short-term memory loss; |
| 40, rarely affecting the elderly. | | | | compromised judgment and unpredictable, sudden |
| Multiple sclerosis involves damage of the nervous | | | | changes of mood. A symptom of multiple sclerosis |
| cells, destroying myelin, a substance that normally | | | | that commonly occurs in people with this form of |
| covers neurons. Myelin has a vital role in transmitting | | | | neurological disease is depression. Most people |
| nervous impulses throughout the entire body, | | | | affected by multiple sclerosis eventually become |
| establishing connections between the neighboring | | | | depressed and avoid any kind of interaction with |
| nervous cells. When the layers of myelin are | | | | other people. |
| affected, nervous impulses travel at reduced speed | | | | Although many symptoms of multiple sclerosis can be |
| between neurons and the body is unable to | | | | very pronounced at certain stages of the disease, |
| adequately respond to external stimuli. | | | | they can be alleviated through the means of medical |
| The symptoms of multiple sclerosis are diversified | | | | treatment. Medical treatments available today are |
| and they can be perceived in different regions of the | | | | able to ease the symptoms of multiple sclerosis in |
| body. Most patients have individualized symptoms of | | | | the periods of relapse and in time they can even help |
| multiple sclerosis, and they tend to occur in episodes, | | | | the reconstruction of myelin, thus helping patients to |
| or "flares". The evolution of multiple sclerosis is | | | | recover from the disease. It is important to timely |
| unpredictable, alternating between stages of | | | | discover the symptoms of multiple sclerosis in order |
| remission and stages of relapse. Most people with | | | | to begin the administration of an appropriate medical |
| multiple sclerosis experience intermittent, recidivating | | | | treatment before the disease becomes serious. |
| symptoms which amplify in the stages of recurrence. | | | | |