December 4th marks National Multiple Sclerosis Day, with this date's main objective being to increase public awareness and support those who suffer from this disease and honor those who have passed away.
Multiple Sclerosis is a chronic, progressive and disabling neurological disease that affects the central nervous system. This disease usually appears in young adults, affecting women twice as frequently.
Most cases are diagnosed between the ages of 20 and 50. Although it is not fatal, it is very disabling, completely influencing the lives of patients. It is estimated that in Portugal, it affects around 60 people out of every 100 thousand Portuguese people and on a global scale, data indicates that there are more than 2 million people with multiple sclerosis. In the initial phase, diagnosis is very difficult because the symptoms are very variable and tend to disappear. Unfortunately, its exact cause is not known, but it is accepted that there may be factors of a genetic, viral, bacterial nature, among others.
The evolution of this disease is very variable and impossible to predict. As a rule, there are four types:
- Relapsing-remitting, in which attacks last days or even weeks, followed by recovery;
- Secondarily progressive, where deficits accumulate after each crisis;
- Primarily progressive, which evolves since its beginning;
- Progressive-remitting, where the disease progresses clearly, but symptom-free periods may occur.
The first symptoms of Multiple Sclerosis are: loss of sensitivity, blurred vision, difficulty walking and speaking, changes in balance, memory and concentration problems, among others. Unfortunately, Multiple Sclerosis has no cure and available medications only slow its progression, reducing the frequency and severity of these attacks.