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What Is Multiple Sclerosis?
Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disease that attacks the central nervous system (brain, spinal cord and optic nerves). Nerve fibres are surrounded by MYELIN. Myelin protects the nerve fibres as well as helping conduct electrical impulses (helps the flow of electricity along the nervous system from the brain).
When you have MS the myelin disappears in many (multiple) areas, leaving scar tissue (sclerosis). Multiple = Many, Sclerosis = Scar Tissue. These areas that lack myelin and have scar tissue are called plaques or lesions. In some cases the nerve fibre itself is broken or damaged.
When there is no myelin the nerve fibre cannot conduct the electrical impulses received from the brain (instructions from the brain to do things, such as move a muscle, are disrupted) - this is Multiple Sclerosis. The inability to get your body to do what you (brain) want it to do.
Who can get MS?
MS can hit anyone at any age. However:
-- It is more common to affect people between 20-50 years of age.
-- Many more women than men suffer from MS.
-- MS affects a higher proportion of people with European ancestry when compared to people of other ancestries. But people of all ancestries can get it.
-- Your genetic make-up can decide how vulnerable you are. However, there is no proof that this susceptibility is inherited.
-- About 2.5 million people have MS globally.
What Are the Causes of MS?
We are not sure. Most scientists and doctors believe your own immune system, for some reason, attacks the myelin as if it were a foreign body, such as a bacteria or a virus - we call this an ‘auto-immune disease'.
There could be many factors that trigger your immune system to attack the myelin. They could be genetic, environmental, exposure to something toxic such as a heavy metal, or a virus. Most agree that the trigger is probably caused by a combination of these factors.
What are the Symptoms of MS?
When a person is at the onset (beginnings) of MS, his/her symptoms may be completely different from another person with onset MS. Some people experience abnormal
fatigue (great tiredness) while others have problems with their eyesight. Some patients complain of a loss of balance and muscle coordination, others have slurred speech, tremors and
incontinence.
A person with MS can expect his/her disease to follow any one of four routes (in each of the four routes, symptoms can range from mild to severe):
- Relapsing-Remitting
Characteristics: People with this type of MS experience clearly defined flare-ups (also called relapses, attacks, or exacerbations). These are episodes of acute worsening of neurologic function. They are followed by partial or complete recovery periods (remissions) free of disease progression.
Frequency: Most common form of MS at time of initial diagnosis. Approximately 85%.
- Primary-Progressive
Characteristics: People with this type of MS experience a slow but nearly continuous worsening of their disease from the onset, with no distinct relapses or remissions. However, there are variations in rates of progression over time, occasional plateaus, and temporary minor improvements.
Frequency: Relatively rare. Approximately 10%.
- Secondary-Progressive
Characteristics: People with this type of MS experience an initial period of relapsing-remitting disease, followed by a steadily worsening disease course with or without occasional flare-ups, minor recoveries (remissions), or plateaus.
Frequency: 50% of people with relapsing-remitting MS developed this form of the disease within 10 years of their initial diagnosis, before introduction of the “disease-modifying” drugs. Long-term data are not yet available to demonstrate if this is significantly delayed by treatment.
- Progressive-Relapsing
Characteristics: People with this type of MS experience a steadily worsening disease from the onset but also have clear acute relapses (attacks or exacerbations), with or without recovery. In contrast to relapsing-remitting MS, the periods between relapses are characterized by continuing disease progression.
Frequency: Relatively rare. Approximately 5%.
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 No man is an island.
No man stands alone,
each man's joy is joy to me,
each man's grief is my own.
"No man is an island", 1950
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Summer is here. Time now to apply for your cooling vest and accessories.
Many people with multiple sclerosis are heat sensitive. MS research has proven that heat and humidity often aggravate common MS symptoms. MS research has also proven that cooling the body can help lessen the negative effects of heat and humidity on a person with MS.
MSAAs Cooling Equipment Distribution Program provides special cooling apparel at no charge to individuals with MS.
To Apply for This Program
Step 1: Click here to view the Cooling Catalog
Step 2: Download the Program Application (  .pdf). Submit just one application form to cover your selections.
Step 3: Complete and sign the forms.
Step 4: Mail the completed forms and any necessary additional documentation (see the Program Application) to:
MSAA
Attn: Program Coordinator - Cooling Equipment Distribution
706 Haddonfield Rd.
Cherry Hill, NJ 08002
If you are unable to view the downloaded forms, you may need to install the Adobe Acrobat Reader .
If you have any other problems with this application, please email wdyer@msaa.com . Indicate the program you are interested in, and we will send you the application.
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