Last Updated on February 20, 2025 by Analgesia team
Multiple Sclerosis | Early Signs in Women You Shouldn’t Ignore
MS is a medical abbreviation for multiple sclerosis, a chronic disease that affects the central nervous system (CNS):
What it is
Multiple Sclerosis is an autoimmune disorder, meaning the body’s immune system attacks healthy brain and spinal cord cells. This damage to the myelin, a fatty substance that protects nerve fibers, results in scar tissue called sclerosis
Symptoms
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- Extreme tiredness, or fatigue, that’s not caused by anything obvious
- Vision problems, such as blurred vision, eye pain, or double vision
- Numbness or tingling in the arms, legs, trunk, or face
- Feeling off balance, dizzy, or clumsy
- Muscle cramps, spasms, and stiffness
- Bladder control problems, such as needing to urinate more often, especially at night
- Bowel issues, such as constipation or trouble controlling bowel movements
- Electric-shock sensations in the neck, especially when bending it forward
- Weakness, often in the arms and legs
- Slowed thinking
- Strange skin sensations
- Stumbling
MS in women
When it occurs
MS can appear at any age, but it most commonly manifests between the ages of 20 and 40. It affects women two to three times as often as men.
Treatment
MS is unpredictable and affects people differently. Some people have mild symptoms, while others experience worsening symptoms that lead to increased disability. There is no cure for MS, but treatments can help slow the disease, control symptoms, and maintain quality of life.
Disease-modifying therapies can help reduce the number of flare-ups, and leading a healthy lifestyle can help slow disease progression.
Risk Factors
Risk factors for Multiple Sclerosis includes:
Age: Most people are diagnosed between the ages of 20 and 40,
Sex: MS is twice as common in women than men
Smoking, Vitamin D deficiency, and Vitamin B12 deficiency.