Multiple Sclerosis Essay - 1620 Words

Multiple Sclerosis (1) One third of a million Americans suffer from MS and a great percentage of those people are women. Women account for 73% of MS sufferers. (2) MS usually strikes young adults between the ages of 20 and 40 years old. (8) There are even some cases of MS being diagnosed in childhood. Multiple sclerosis is a disease that affects the central nervous system, attacking the brain and the spinal cord. MS attacks myelin, the fatty material that acts as a protective coating to the bodys nerves. (1) The inflammation of the nerve tissues covering the nerves can affect any part of the nervous system and varies from person to person. (7) Normal nerve function decreases with the onset of MS because MS causes scars to form on†¦show more content†¦Therefore, what causes MS? What causes the nerves of the bodies of MS patients to obtain scarring? Why do people get MS? The cause of MS is not known. But is said not to be hereditary. The bodys immune system usually defends it from bacteria, but in the case of MS the immune system is attacking the myelin. (1) This attack is adverse to the purpose of the immune system and the cause is attributed to different theories. The one theory is that there is a virus dormant in the body that may be a factor in the development of MS and alters the immune systems responsibility. (1) Then there is the theory that common diseases or STDs trigger MS and this initiates the migration of white blood cells to enter the brain. Once in the brain these white blood cells activate certain parts of the immune system and thus the immune system begins to attack the myelin that surrounds the nerve. (1) There is another theory that the scarring of the myelin of the nerve is caused by oxidation injury. (3) Oxidation injury is seemingly caused by unstable molecules named free radicals. These free radicals supposedly take electrons from healthy molecules they find in the myelin. These free radicals are also said to occur when the body has been exposed to toxic chemicals. (5) Free radicals are described as punching holes in the cellular walls of our bodies. There is another theory that researchers of MS present. TheShow MoreRelatedMultiple Sclerosis835 Words   |  4 PagesMarkel Franklin Professor Idziak Speech 1311 March 27, 2012 Multiple Sclerosis Specific Purpose: To inform my audience about multiple sclerosis by exploring various facts of the disease including what causes it, types of the disease and how it is treated. General Purpose: To make people aware of the autoimmune disease. Introduction I. Greeting- Good afternoon Ladies and Gentlemen. It is always a pleasure to stand before such an enthusiastic crowd and to talkRead MoreThe Mechanics Of Multiple Sclerosis Essay1689 Words   |  7 Pagesthe real expressions of Multiple Sclerosis. These neurological symptoms were first identified in the early 14th and 15th centuries. The immune system attacks the myelin of the brain spinal cord causing a cessation or misinterpretation of communication with the rest of the body. Due to this destruction or damage to the myelin, scar tissue forms and there central nervous system cannot communicate with the body effectively. This is the mechanics of Multiple Sclerosis, a disease that affectsRead MoreEssay Multiple Sclerosis583 Words   |  3 PagesMultiple sclerosis is a complex, autoimmune disease caused by damage of the fatty myelin sheaths around axons of the brain and spinal cord which leads to demyelination, lesions (scaring) and inflammation1, 2, 3. This damage leads t o disruption of nerve impulse along axons resulting in the many symptoms seen in multiple sclerosis patients. Although its exact etiology is unknown, current research indicates that multiple sclerosis is a complex combination of genetic and environmental factors. 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Scar tissue (called plaques or lesions) forms at the points where demyelination occurs in the brain and spinal cord, hence the nameRead More Multiple Sclerosis Essay731 Words   |  3 Pages Multiple sclerosis, or MS, is a disease of the central nervous system. The central nervous system is made up of the brain and spinal cord. Both have nerve fibers that are wrapped in a myelin sheath. In MS, the myelin sheath becomes inflamed and gradually is destroyed. With the destruction of the myelin sheath comes an array of symptoms that may include numbness or tingling, balance problems, weakness, muscle spasms, and blurred vision. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Anyone can develop MS, but manyRead MoreSymptoms And Symptoms Of Multiple Sclerosis967 Words   |  4 Pages Multiple Sclerosis Daniel Phuong Nguyen Dr. David Chen KNES 371 1:00 p.m. December 5, 2015 Word Count: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disorder that causes the immune system to attack myelin sheath causing neurological damage to areas of the brain and causes neurological deterioration. In the brain the myelin sheath is involved with what allows for communication between brain and the body. As the disease progresses the sheath deteriorates the neurons where the myelin