About one million people in the U.S. have multiple sclerosis, Healthline¹ reports, and another 200 people are diagnosed every week. Often known as MS, this disease can affect people of all backgrounds and any age.
If you or a loved one has MS, it’s important to understand what the disease is, what its symptoms are, and how it’s treated. Multiple sclerosis can be a difficult disease to live with, but understanding this disease can improve your quality of life.
Early Warning Signs of Multiple Sclerosis
The National Multiple Sclerosis Society (NMSS)² writes that multiple sclerosis is an autoimmune disease that causes damage to the body’s myelin, the protective sheath that covers nerve fibers. This can cause problems with nerve functioning and eventually lead to permanent nerve damage.
One of the most common early symptoms of multiple sclerosis is a vision problem, NMSS³ reports. There are several vision problems associated with MS, but most of them have a good prognosis for recovery.
In some cases, vision problems are caused by optic neuritis, which is the inflammation of the optic nerve. This can lead to blurred vision, dark spots, or blindness in one eye. Fortunately, it’s treatable, and most people make a full recovery. People with MS also may experience diplopia, or double vision, which is caused by weakness or lack of coordination in the muscles around the eyes.
Numbness or tingling in the arms, legs, or face is another common early sign of MS. The numbness usually begins as a mild issue but can worsen until it affects functioning. Some people with MS have difficulty walking because of numbness in their feet, while others may have trouble writing or holding objects because of numbness in their hands.
Everyone with MS experiences the disorder differently, so no two people will develop the exact same symptoms in the same order. Other early signs of MS include the following:
- Muscle spasms
- Fatigue
- Dizziness or difficulty balancing
- Bladder problems
- Brain fog or cognitive issues
to continue to read this article in its entirety click this link: Multiple Sclerosis Facts Everyone Should Know