What is multiple sclerosis actually?Hardly any disease is as complex as multiple sclerosis. It manifests itself in a variety of symptoms. Proceeds differently in each affected person. In any case, however, a malfunction of our immune system is behind the chronic disease with the 1.000 faces.
What MS is and what it is not
Multiple sclerosis (MS) – it has something to do with nerves and the brain, causes a lot of discomfort, is contagious, is not curable. Surely you have heard many true, half-true and untrue things in connection with MS.
But what is multiple sclerosis actually?? MS is a chronic inflammatory disease of the central nervous system (CNS). This leads to multiple inflammation foci in the brain and spinal cord. These in turn lead to the destruction of nerve fibers and, in the long term, to hardening and scarring (scleros = hard) of nerve tie.
Sometimes the term "encephalomyelitis disseminata" is also used for MS. It is derived from the Greek words "enkephalos" for brain, "myelos" for marrow, and the Latin word "disseminare", meaning to spread. The term describes an inflammation spread over different parts of the central nervous system.
The consequence of the inflammations: Commands and stimuli sent by our brain cells to muscles or organs are delayed or no longer reach their destination at all. Conversely, stimuli that are received do not reach the brain as quickly as possible and can therefore no longer be processed properly. This is why multiple sclerosis can lead to movement-. Sensory disturbances come. But the disease can also manifest itself in many other symptoms – in 1.000 faces.
Causes still unknown
Although the exact causes of multiple sclerosis are not yet known, it is now clear that it is a so-called autoimmune disease. And therefore MS is not contagious. It is not triggered by pathogens, but by our immune system. Instead of protecting us from viruses and bacteria, it suddenly attacks healthy, endogenous tie. In the case of MS, these are the so-called myelin sheaths. They surround the nerve processes like an insulating layer. Thus ensure the smooth transmission of sensory stimuli.
MS progresses very differently
A typical characteristic of MS is that the course of the disease varies from patient to patient. This applies to the occurrence of symptoms as well as to the frequency and duration of so-called relapses.
Thrust
Characteristic feature of MS, characterized by
– a sudden onset of symptoms lasting more than 24 hours. – a time interval between two episodes of at least 30 days.
The disease also progresses at different rates. Nevertheless, MS can be divided into three basic forms:
Your doctor can tell you which form you have. He also knows how MS and the possibly occurring complaints can be treated.
In short& Just under
Multiple sclerosis is a disease of the central nervous system. Due to inflammations in the brain and spinal cord, sensory stimuli are no longer transmitted and processed correctly. This leads to numerous complaints, which occur very differently from patient to patient. A malfunction of the immune system is considered to be the trigger for the inflammations.