1. Clinically Isolated Syndrome (CIS)<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n Clinically Isolated Syndrome is defined as an episode of neurologic symptoms of multiple sclerosis that lasts at least 24 hours. While it exhibits the characteristics of MS, it isn’t an actual diagnosis of the disease. People who experience CIS have a greater risk of developing multiple sclerosis than others, but it is not necessarily set in stone. Those who get lesions on their brain have a higher likelihood of developing it, while those who don’t have a lower likelihood<\/p>\n\n\n\n 2. Relapsing-Remitting MS (RRMS)<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n The most common type of multiple sclerosis is RRMS, where patients exhibit symptoms that may last for periods of weeks or months (called relapses or exacerbations), then go into periods of partial or complete recovery (called remissions). Around 85 percent of multiple sclerosis patients are diagnosed with RRMS at the onset.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 3. Secondary Progressive MS (SPMS)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n SPMS starts out as relapsing-remitting MS, with around 50 percent of RRMS patients eventually progressing to SPMS. This is when there is an accumulation of disability, which means that a patient’s neurological functions progressively worsen over time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 4. Primary Progressive MS (PPMS)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Affecting around 15 percent of people with multiple sclerosis, PPMS is when accumulation of disability (the prorgressive worsening of neurological function) starts right at the onset of symptoms. PPMS patients do not experience any early relapses or remissions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Although here is not yet a cure for multiple sclerosis, the symptoms that come with the disease can be treated and managed in a number of ways.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Treatments for Multiple Sclerosis<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n If you suffer from multiple sclerosis, here are some treatments that your doctor might recommend to handle your symptoms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n 1. Corticosteroids<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Corticosteroids, more commonly known as steroids, are sometimes prescribed to treat episodes of relapses. These are usually prescribed only for relapses that are severe enough to disrupt your ability to function. Symptoms that these might be used for include balance problems, vision problems, and extreme weakness. Steroids help by shortening your flare-up, relieving your symptoms more quickly. They work by reducing nerve inflammation. There are different types of steroids, each with possible side effects. Consult your doctor if you feel that steroids can help your problem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n 2. Fatigue Reducing Medication<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n People with multiple sclerosis tend to be plagued with fatigue, whether caused by the illness itself or by its symptoms. Living with fatigue and lassitude daily can affect your productivity and quality of life. If this is a problem for you, tell your doctor so that he or she can prescribe medication to reduce your fatigue. He or she could help you determine what is causing your fatigue. Depending on the cause, there are a variety of treatments that may be prescribed to help manage your problem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n 3. Ampyra<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The simple act of walking can pose a great challenge to people with multiple sclerosis. About 75 percent of patients experience walking problems. Thankfully, there is a medication called Ampyra (or Dalfampridine) that can help with this. This drug helps improve the flow of signals through the nerves in your brain and spinal cord so that your body works more effectively. If you have walking problems, tell your doctor about it so that he or she could prescribe this medication to you. Make sure you follow only the prescribed dosage, as a higher dosage or taking them less than 12 hours apart can increase the risk of a seizure. Also be watchful in case you experience any side effects.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n 4. Disease-Modifying Therapies<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Disease-modifying therapies, or DMTs, are treatments that can reduce relapses in multiple sclerosis, as well as lower the severity of these. In addition, these can also slow down the progression of the disease. Early use of these treatments may help avoid permanent damage to the nervous system. They could also lessen the chance of developing new lesions in the brain and spinal cord. However, DMTs can have side effects, and some of these could bring about serious adverse reactions. Using these medications should be closely monitored, and they should be stopped immediately if the side effects become intolerable. Also make sure to consult your doctor first before taking any DMTs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n 5. Muscle Relaxants<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Some common complaints of people with multiple sclerosis include muscle spasms (or spasticity), muscle stiffness, and pain. MS symptoms such as these can be relieved by relaxing the muscles. This can be achieved using muscle relaxants. Some commonly used muscle relaxants are baclofen (Loresal, Kemstro, Gablofen) and tizanidine (Zanaflex). However, as with any drug, it is important to consult with your doctor first to get the proper prescription and dosage for you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n 6. Other Oral and Injectable Medications<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n There are a number of oral and injectable medications available to treat symptoms of multiple sclerosis. However, what one patient needs may be different from what another one does. Medication will depend on each unique case, taking into consideration the symptoms that are experienced, as well as other factors. Remember that it is not wise to self-medicate. While MS treatments have benefits, they also have side effects and risks. Make sure you talk to your doctor to get the right prescription for oral or injectable medication that will help with your symptoms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n 7. Physical and Occupational Therapy<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Because the illness damages the nerves, multiple sclerosis greatly affects a patient’s sense of movement. His or her ability to move his or her legs, arms and hands may be decreased. Physical and occupational therapy can help a patient function more effectively. With physical therapy (or PT), exercises are recommended to help increase your muscle strength, improve your gait, and improve your balance and coordination. On the other hand, occupational therapy (or OT) can help you do your daily activities more independently. It helps you improve the skills you use in accomplishing your everyday tasks. In other words, OT can teach you how to care for yourself in your day-to-day life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n 8. Plasma Exchange<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Plasmapheresis, commonly known as plasma exchange, is a procedure to cleanse the blood. This is done by separating the plasma, which is the liquid portion of the blood, from the red and white blood cells. A plasma replacement fluid (such as plasma from a donor, or a plasma substitute) is then mixed with these cells, then transfused back into the patient. Plasma exchange is sometimes used by people with multiple sclerosis to manage relapses. A greater chance of improvement has been seen in those with a relapsing form of MS, especially in men, those with Marburg variant MS, and those who start treatment within 20 days of the onset of symptoms. However, there hasn’t been evidence of improvement for those with primary progressive MS or secondary progressive MS.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n 9. Balanced Diet<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n It goes without saying that everyone can benefit from a healthy diet. However, this can be especially beneficial to someone who has multiple sclerosis. Combined with exercise, a balanced diet may help with his or her symptoms. Examples of the positive impact a balanced diet may have include promoting healthy bowel and bladder functions, relieving fatigue, strengthening the heart and muscles, and improving flexibility. While there is no specific diet recommended for multiple sclerosis, you could consult your doctor to find the best diet to meet your needs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n 10. Exercise<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Exercise is good for any person’s health. However, for people with multiple sclerosis, exercise is especially important. It is in fact one of the treatments that can have the highest impact on their overall wellness. While the symptoms of MS may make you want to just stay in bed all day, getting exercise can go a long way in improving them. It can improve your endurance, strengthen your arms and legs, lessen your fatigue, boost your mood, increase control over your bladder and bowel, and improve your balance and coordination. However, as MS can make your body sensitive to heat, it is important to exercise safely, and avoid putting too much strain on your body. It would be best to consult your doctor first to come up with the best fitness program for you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n 11. Quality Sleep<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Many adults struggle to get a good night’s sleep. Because of many factors in their daily lives, they often either don’t get enough hours of sleep, or sleep without really getting well-rested. For people with multiple sclerosis, getting quality sleep may be an even bigger problem. They are more prone to sleep disturbance. Hence, it is important to get restful sleep to avoid aggravating MS symptoms. Some steps you could take to improve your sleeping habits include following a sleep schedule, practicing a bedtime routine that will make you ready for bed, limiting caffeine and alcohol consumption, setting the right atmosphere in your bedroom, and practicing some relaxation techniques.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n 12. Avoid Stress<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Stress is a part of most people’s lives. It is even more present when someone is suffering from a chronic illness. Stress can have a negative impact on one’s health, and it is even more apparent in those who have multiple sclerosis. It tends to aggravate symptoms of MS, which may lead to relapse. That’s why MS patients should avoid triggers as much as possible, and develop a good lifestyle that would help reduce their stress. This will benefit both your physical and emotional health. Some ways to manage your stress include finding the time to take a break from your daily activities, taking up a relaxing hobby, practicing yoga, or going for a leisurely walk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n 13. Manage Body Temperature<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n People with multiple sclerosis tend to be sensitive to heat. Even a slight increase in their body temperature can aggravate their symptoms. They can easily be affected by warm weather, a hot bath or shower, exercise, or even a heavy meal. This is because heat can slow down nerve signals in the body, affecting the way the body responds. Some symptoms that may be affected include fatigue, muscle weakness, blurry vision, walking or balance problems, bowel or bladder dysfunction, and trouble thinking. There are several ways that you could regulate your body temperature. These include hydrating, using a fan, wearing loose clothing, eating lightly, and exercising in moderation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n Preventions for Multiple Sclerosis<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Because it is as yet unknown what exactly causes multiple sclerosis, there is no actual way to prevent it from occurring. However, there are some ways that you could prevent symptoms of MS or slow down its progression.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 1. Intermittent Fasting<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Intermittent fasting, or IF, has recently gained popularity as a method to lose weight. This is where you cycle between periods of eating and periods of fasting. Rather than an actual diet, it is more of an eating pattern. According to studies, intermittent fasting may have a calming effect on the overactive immune response that causes damage on the nerves. It may possibly reduce MS-related inflammation, as well as prevent the release of chemicals by the immune system that could attack myelin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n 2. Vitamin D<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n While there still isn’t any proven way of preventing multiple sclerosis, vitamin D may lower your risk of developing it. This vitamin has been shown to have positive effects on the immune system. Studies suggest that people who get more vitamin D through sun exposure and from their diet have a lower chance of developing the disease. Vitamin D also seems to benefit those who already suffer from multiple sclerosis. It has been shown to reduce the severity and frequency of some symptoms, increasing the time it takes for RRMS to transition into SPMS, and improve quality of life in general.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n 3. Coffee<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Coffee is a part of the daily lives of a lot of people. The drink is rich in antioxidants, and also has anti-inflammatory properties. Studies have suggested that when taken in moderate doses, it may actually have benefits for your health. As it turns out, it may even play a role in lowering the chances of developing multiple sclerosis. Studies have shown that those who consumed more than 900 ml, or around three mugs, of coffee a day are 30 percent less likely to get the disease than those who don’t. However, the studies have not yet proven conclusive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n 4. Red Wine<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n It might not be a well-known fact that red wine has anti-inflammatory properties. A study in Belgium shows that it may also help slow down the progression of multiple sclerosis. This was conducted on 1,431 people, with more than 80% of them drinking up to seven glasses of wine per week. Though the study has not yet proven conclusive, patients with the relapse form of MS who drank wine showed less severe symptoms. The wine appeared to have a protective effect on them. It is not clear how it produces this effect, but the study suggests that the anti-inflammatory effects of resveratrol found in red wine might have something to do with it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Living with multiple sclerosis can be a challenge that must be faced daily. It affects both your physical and emotional well-being. Make sure to see your doctor regularly to be able to find the best treatment for your symptoms. Though it can be difficult, you can still live a happy and productive life if you manage your illness.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Multiple sclerosis, or MS, is an autoimmune disease that attacks the central nervous system by targeting the myelin sheath, a protective layer covering the nerves in our body. The damage that this causes can be crippling, and can affect a person’s ability to talk, walk, swallow, and even breathe. Although MS can occur at any […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":412,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[7,6,3,4],"tags":[21,42,19,16,41,43],"yoast_head":"\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/healthnewscentral.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/multiple-sclerosis-treatment2.jpg\")
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/healthnewscentral.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/multiple-sclerosis-treatment3.jpg\")
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/healthnewscentral.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/multiple-sclerosis-treatment4.jpg\")
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/healthnewscentral.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/multiple-sclerosis-treatment5.jpg\")
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/healthnewscentral.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/multiple-sclerosis-treatment6.jpg\")
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/healthnewscentral.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/multiple-sclerosis-treatment7.jpg\")
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/healthnewscentral.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/multiple-sclerosis-treatment8.jpg\")
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/healthnewscentral.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/multiple-sclerosis-treatment9.jpg\")
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/healthnewscentral.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/multiple-sclerosis-treatment10.jpg\")
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/healthnewscentral.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/multiple-sclerosis-treatment11.jpg\")
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/healthnewscentral.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/multiple-sclerosis-treatment12.jpg\")
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/healthnewscentral.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/multiple-sclerosis-treatment13.jpg\")
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/healthnewscentral.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/multiple-sclerosis-treatment14.jpg\")
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/healthnewscentral.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/multiple-sclerosis-treatment15.jpg\")
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/healthnewscentral.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/multiple-sclerosis-treatment16.jpg\")
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/healthnewscentral.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/multiple-sclerosis-treatment17.jpg\")
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/healthnewscentral.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/multiple-sclerosis-treatment18.jpg\")