Everything you need to know about MS
Despite the fact that around one in 20 Australians will know someone with multiple sclerosis (MS) in their lifetime, it seems that the condition is still misunderstood by much of the population.
Many people don’t actually know what MS is or what the symptoms are, according to research conducted on behalf of MS Research Australia.
In the body of an MS sufferer, the immune system attacks the outside of the nerves in the brain and spine, resulting in a disruption to the communication between the brain and the body.
This can lead to issues with coordination (one in five end up in a wheelchair), as well as pain, depression, memory loss, incontinence, and problems with vision. The severity of the condition varies from person to person, with some having no symptoms at all where others have lifelong pain and symptoms.
Medication is often prescribed to suppress the immune system, and over the past decade the proliferation of new drugs has meant that the progression of the disease can be slowed down considerably.
Facts about MS from MS Australia:
- Around 23,000 Australians are affected, with 2 million sufferers worldwide
- Most people are diagnosed between 20-40 years of age
- Three quarters of sufferers are women
- Sufferers can still expect to live to 95% of the general life expectancy
- MS is different for everyone so it’s difficult to predict how and when specific symptoms will manifest themselves
- Children can find the disease hard to understand as it varies so much, so MS Australia has a link to a free educational app that helps to explain MS to kids.
Some celebrities have spoken about living with MS, including actor Richard Pryor as well as reality TV star Jack Osbourne. After being diagnosed at age 27, Osbourne went on to become an advocate for raising awareness of MS – he even has a website (You Don’t Know Jack About MS) to share his story with others.