...Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a chronic, progressive and degenerative neurological disease of the Central Nervous System (CNS). In MS, the immune system attacks the myelin sheath around the axons in the CNS, resulting in an autoimmune-mediated demyelination. This demyelination produces plaques or lesions that bring about a variety of symptoms- loss of motor function, loss of bowel or bladder control, problems in sexual functioning, debilitating fatigue, visual disturbances, pain, cognitive problems and emotional changes( Naismith, Trinkau, and Cross, 2006) In 1999 empirical studies began to report an increase in the number of African Americans diagnosed with MS which were documented in the recent studies( Holland, Gray, and Pierce, 2011; National MS Society, 2015). This issue is important because of the aggressive advancement, which occurs for African Americans diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) compared to Caucasians. The results of the MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) found significantly more lesions associated with the aggressive form of the illness in the brains of African Americans compared to Caucasians ( Howard et al., 2012). What are African Americans with MS experiences with social workers since being diagnosed? What are the social worker's perceptions of how African Americans with MS cope...
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...Multiple Sclerosis is a tough disease to diagnose. It is diagnosed by a combination of tests, including clinical and paraclinical laboratory testing, and the evaluation of symptoms. Due to the complexity in diagnosing the disease it may not be detected as early as possible, thus prolonging the course of treatment (National Multiple Sclerosis Society, 2015). Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is a test used to image the central nervous system, allowing doctors to analyze the different lobes of the brain (Polman et al., 2011). In terms of diagnosing MS, doctors look for multiple signs which act in unision. For example, Polman et al., 2008 suggests that patients with nausea and vomiting for at least two days, and have a lesion within...
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...VI. How is multiple sclerosis diagnosed?: Multiple sclerosis, similar to ALS, cannot be diagnosed by simply one test. The doctor will need to run multiple tests and thoroughly evaluate their patient to determine a diagnosis. First, a doctor will examine the patient to check for some of the common symptoms of multiple sclerosis. These symptoms include fatigue, dizziness, muscle weakness, muscle stiffness, balance problems, numbness or tingling, vision problems, bladder or bowel problems, cognitive changes, and emotional changes. Most people will develop these symptoms between the ages of 20 and 50 but they can occur at most other ages (National Multiple Sclerosis Society, 2015). If the physician finds any of these symptoms, they will then look...
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...A common symptom of multiple sclerosis (MS) is muscle weakness. For many years, patients with MS were told to avoid physical activity and exercise. Now it is believed that exercising with regularity can limit the deconditioning process without a triggering or exacerbation of disease symptoms or relapse (1). Because lower body weakness is common in patients with MS, exercise programs that focus on leg strength, moving ability and fatigue showed significant improvements in knee extensor and plantar flexor muscle forces and walking performance (3). An effective exercise training program for people with MS would include aerobic exercise, resistance training, and balance training. Aerobic training should occur 2 to 5 times a week on days the...
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...Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic demagogic and immunological disease characterized by demyelization of the central nervous system (CNS) that most often affects young adults in the prime of their lives.1 The disease may lead to a wide variety of physical and non-physical disabilities among young and middle-aged adults. Symptoms of the disease begin mostly between ages 20 and 50 years, with a peak at age 33 years2 and is approximately two to three times more common in women than in men.3 The Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) is the most widely accepted clinical evaluation scale for the estimate of neurological impairment and disability in MS. It is primarily based on the individual scores of seven functional systems including the visual, brainstem, pyramidal, cerebellar, sensory, bowel/bladder, and cerebral systems as well as on the walking range and the assistance needed to ambulate.4 Symptoms of MS are multifold, and varied including visual disturbances, pyramidal signs (muscle weakness and spasticity), sensory dysfunction, incoordination,...
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...Multiple Sclerosis is an immune-mediated process. An immune-mediated process is when the immune system attacks the central nervous system. There are many believers that this an autoimmune disease. Autoimmunity means that the immune system is reaching against normal occurring antigens in the body. Although, many believe this, there is no antigen that has been identified in Multiple Sclerosis; therefore, it cannot be classified as an autoimmune disease. In the case with Multiple Sclerosis the immune system attacks and damages certain structures and cells within the CNS. The following structures and cells are: myelin, oligodendrocytes, and underlying nerve fibers. Myelin is a fatty sheath that surrounds and protects nerve fibers. Oligodendrocytes is a myelin producing cell....
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...There are a several variables that can increase a person’s risk to developing multiple sclerosis. Some of these factors include latitude, smoking, gender, and age. The frequency of multiple sclerosis increases with increasing latitude worldwide (Ascherio & Munger, 2007b). One of the strongest connections between latitude and the risk of multiple sclerosis is the amount of time spent in the sun and the intensity of the sun’s rays (Ascherio & Munger, 2007b). The most common hypothesis to explain the association between the sun and risk of multiple sclerosis is the amount of in vitamin D intake. A study done by Munger et al. (2004) found that one’s susceptibility to multiple sclerosis is inversely related to their total amount of vitamin D intake....
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...There are a multiple variables that can cause an increase in a person’s risk to developing multiple sclerosis. One of these factors is based on latitude in which frequency of multiple sclerosis increases with increasing latitude worldwide (Ascherio & Munger, 2007). One of the strongest connections between latitude and the risk of multiple sclerosis is the amount of time spent in the sun and the strength of the sun (Ascherio & Munger, 2007). The most common hypothesis to explain the link between the sun and risk of multiple sclerosis is the difference in vitamin D intake. A study done by Munger et al. (2004) found that the susceptibility to multiple sclerosis was inversely related to the total amount of vitamin D intake. They also found that...
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...As an intern at Peak Physical Therapy, I shadow all of the PT’s, however, being a Psychological Sciences major with a concentration in neuroscience, I can’t help but interest myself in the patients that Courtney works with that are diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. For those of you who do not know about MS, it is a neurodegenerative disorder that destroys the myelin (fatty tissue) around the nerves, which then causes motor impairments, numbness in the limbs/extremities, Lhermitte’s symptom (an electric shock-like sensation down the spine and into the limbs) as well as other cognitive deficits. As this month’s theme is wellness, I decided to touch on how nutrition plays a role in MS patients as there is a serious lack of information and research...
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...1.1 Introduction Multiple sclerosis is a disease of the central nervous system, harms the brain's ability to send and receive signals. It is considered one of the common diseases of the central nervous system. It affects in most cases the children and people aged between 20-40 years. Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an inflammatory disease of the central nervous system. The central nervous system is made up of the brain, spinal cord, and optic nerves. The exact reason(s) for the inflammation that occurs in MS are not yet known, and this remains an active area of research. We do know that the inflammation damages both neurons and the myelin that protects neuronal processes (called axons). The effect of multiple sclerosis (MS) on the individual and...
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...Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a central nervous system disease in which the immune system attacks its own cells. It affects between 250,000 to 350,000 people in the United States. It can cause inflammation and damage to the tissues that surround the brain leading to dysfunctional nerve impulses (Curtin et al., “Clinical Development” 265; Goldenberg 175; “White Matter Matters”). The symptoms of MS include loss of body movements, some visual loss, and numbness and tingling and about 50% of patients will require assistance with walking within 15 years after disease onset (Goldenberg 175). Multiple sclerosis is also considered to be a CD4+ T-cell-mediated disease because in previous animal experiments, CD4+ T cells were able to produce a disease similar...
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...What is Multiple sclerosis? Multiple sclerosis, also known as disseminated sclerosis or encephalomyelitis disseminata is an autoimmune condition in which the immune system attacks the central nervous system (CNS), leading to demyelination. It may cause numerous physical and mental symptoms, and often progresses to physical and cognitive disability. Disease onset usually occurs in young adults, is more common in women, and has a prevalence that ranges between 2 and 150 per 100,000 depending on the country or specific population. Multiple sclerosis affects the areas of the brain and spinal cord known as the white matter. White matter cells carry signals between the grey matter areas, where the processing is done, and the rest of the body. More specifically, Multiple sclerosis destroys oligodendrocytes which are the cells responsible for creating and maintaining a fatty layer, known as the myelin sheath, which helps the neurons carry electrical signals. MS results in a thinning or complete loss of myelin and, less frequently, the cutting (transection) of the neuron's extensions or axons. When the myelin is lost, the neurons can no longer effectively conduct their electrical signals. The name multiple sclerosis refers to the scars (scleroses - better known as plaques or lesions) in the white matter. Loss of myelin in these lesions causes some of the symptoms, which vary widely depending upon which signals are interrupted. However, more advanced forms of imaging are now showing that...
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...Professor Benham ENC 1101 October 4,2011 Effect of Multiple Sclerosis Multiple Sclerosis is an autoimmune condition of the nervous system and the brain. This means that the body’s innate ability to attack potentially harmful foreign bodies backfires. When this happens, the immune cells that should target the pathogens attach normal and healthy cells instead. Multiple sclerosis is such a condition in which the nerve endings are damaged due to the loss or destruction of the myelin sheath, a protective covering. The sensitivity and effective transmitting capability of the nerves are then compromised. (All Health Online) There are five types of Multiple Sclerosis, however the severity and type of multiple sclerosis depends upon the size and location of the plaque. There are five common types of multiple sclerosis: 1) Benign Sensory multiple sclerosis, which is a form of multiple sclerosis is the less effective on the body, it usually doesn’t get worse and it usually accompanied with loss of sensation and vision problems.2) Benign exacerbating/remission Multiple Sclerosis, fluctuates but comes closely back to baseline after the attack. 3) Chronic Relapsing-Progressive Multiple Sclerosis is another type of MS where the patents’ have more server episodes. 4) Chronic Progressive Multiple Sclerosis is a more progressive condition where symptoms get worse without a distinct attack. 5) Acute Progressive Multiple Sclerosis involves a rapidly progressive downhill course, where episodes...
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...people with multiple sclerosis. Although, the title of the study appears long, it is complete and accurate. Specifically, the title implies that the qualitative study was conducted on the participants after they received medical help in order to determine their perceptions of the Blue prescription as an intervention for enhancing levels of physical activity. Study Abstract An abstract refers to a brief summary of a concluded research. A proper abstract inspires the reader to scan through the research purposely to learn more about what the investigation was all about. The abstract contains the following primary elements of the research: the problem statement; the significance of physical activity among patients with multiple sclerosis; the methodology; results; and the scientific gap of adopting the Blue prescription as a way of ensuring that patients overcome the problem. Although, the study abstract is comprehensive, and has relevant keywords, it is not complete due to the lack of limitations of the study. Introduction and Study Objectives The introduction to the research study is spot on, in the sense that it offers a deep insight into the topic being studied. The authors began by highlighting the rationale and importance of the health benefits of physical activity among patients with Multiple Sclerosis (MS); suggesting that, though previous studies discouraged physical activity among persons having chronic health complications, recent research studies have proven...
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...Multiple Sclerosis (MS): An Autoimmune Disease. You are in your mid twenty but you feel fatigue, numbness of extremities, chronic pain, vision problem, etc almost daily. Then sometime, you feel dizzy, vertigo, loss of balance, involuntary muscle spasms, and difficult to move around. You may feel depress and mood swings in addition to these symptoms. What is wrong with you? You are at the age where as young adults with full energize life ahead, ready to take charge of an independent life and assume a various social roles and economic responsibilities like a new career after college and graduate school, begin an intimate romance relationships, or maybe starting a family of your own (Falvo, 2009). What you are experiences are the common symptoms of Multiple Sclerosis (MS), a Central Nervous System (CNS) disease which affects over 400,000 Americans, and every week about 200 people are diagnosed. Worldwide, it affects about 2.5 million people (NewsRx Health and Science, 2012). Its exact cause is unknown, however the common thought is some unknown virus or gene defect is the blame. To really understand Multiple Sclerosis we will need to look at it definition and history, the statistics of number people afflicted with it, what are the social-psychological challenges of the disease. We will also need to look at what kind of research projects and experiments have been done regarding the disease, what kind of help and support that the community have to offer to its patients,...
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