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<title>Latest Multiple Sclerosis Articles</title>
<link>http://www.populate.net/</link>
<description>Articles at Populate.NET</description>
<language>en-us</language>
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<title>Interpreting Multiple Sclerosis Symptoms Properly</title>
<link>http://www.populate.net/Health/Diseases_and_Conditions/multiple-sclerosis/interpreting-multiple-sclerosis-symptoms-properly.html</link>
<guid>http://www.populate.net/Health/Diseases_and_Conditions/multiple-sclerosis/interpreting-multiple-sclerosis-symptoms-properly.html</guid>
<pubDate>Sun, 11 May 2008 00:00:00 -0700</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ The disease multiple sclerosis affects the body's central nervous system. When the disease takes hold, multiple sclerosis symptoms can be painful and debilitating. This experience can be terrifying for a patient who previously lived a full and healthy life. 

Sudden physical limitations and mood swings can be extremely difficult for the patient and their family. To help you understand what you or your loved one is going through, we'll explain some of the most common symptoms of MS and give you some tips for coping them.  

MS symptoms usually appear between the ages of 20 and 40. The onset of MS may be dramatic or so mild that a person doesn't even notice any symptoms until far later in the course of the disease. Primary symptoms include impairment of the necessary transmission of electrical brain signals to muscles and the organs of the body. 

The symptoms include weakness, tremors, tingling and numbness, loss of balance, vision impairment, paralysis, and bladder or bowel problems. Secondary symptoms result from primary symptoms. For example, paralysis can lead to bedsores, incontinence, and recurring urinary tract infections. 

These symptoms can be treated, but the ideal goal is to avoid them by treating the primary symptoms. Tertiary symptoms are the social, psychological, and vocational complications associated with the primary and secondary symptoms. Depression, for example, is a common problem among people with MS.

Fatigue is the most common symptom of MS. It is typically present in the mid afternoon and may consist of increased muscle weakness, mental fatigue, sleepiness or drowsiness. Many MS patients report a sensitivity to heat that worsens when they go outside or take a shower. Muscle spasms are a common and often debilitating symptom of MS. 

Spasticity usually affects the muscles of the legs and arms, and may interfere with a person's ability to move those muscles freely. Many people with MS complain of dizziness and lightheadedness. These symptoms are caused by damage in the complex nerve pathways that coordinate vision and other inputs into the brain that are needed to maintain balance. 

Perhaps the most frightening of all multiple sclerosis symptoms is cognitive impairment. Almost half of all MS patients report slowed thinking, difficulty concentrating and loss of short term memory. Some people experience problems with their vision, but these are moderate issues that do not include blindness. 

Abnormal sensations can range from numbness to extreme pain. These symptoms can be treated. However, speech and swallowing problems, tremors and problems walking can be difficult to treat because these symptoms come as a result of damaged nerves.

Dealing with your multiple sclerosis symptoms does not have to be difficult or time consuming. You may not be able to do everything that you once enjoyed, but taking medication and making a few key lifestyle choices can ensure that you still live a full life. For more multiple sclerosis information, research the disease online or contact the Multiple Sclerosis Society. ]]></description>
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<title>Does Head Trauma Cause Multiple Sclerosis?</title>
<link>http://www.populate.net/Health/Diseases_and_Conditions/multiple-sclerosis/does-head-trauma-cause-multiple-sclerosis.html</link>
<guid>http://www.populate.net/Health/Diseases_and_Conditions/multiple-sclerosis/does-head-trauma-cause-multiple-sclerosis.html</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 17 Mar 2008 00:00:00 -0700</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ Can injuries to the head, neck, or spine cause the onset of Multiple Sclerosis (MS)? This is a debate that has waged in the field of medicine for years. The suspicion has lingered and does not seem to be fading at all with time. In fact, more health care practitioners are documenting cases of MS diagnosed subsequent to spinal trauma - too many to be caused by chance.

Multiple Sclerosis has a variety of symptoms that range in severity. These symptoms often begin over a period of days; they escalate, peak, and subside. After a certain period of time, such as a few weeks or months, the pattern reemerges. Symptoms include sensory issues, such as numbness or tingling, visual impairments such as blurry or double vision, fatigue, pain, and problems with motor skills.  Impairments worsen over time as the disease progresses.

The cause of Multiple Sclerosis has been questioned in the medical community for decades. Countless studies, clinical deliberations, and robust debates have made little progress in discovering the source of the illness. Numerous theories have been proposed including that MS is a form of an autoimmune response, that a viral illness is involved, that there is a genetic link, or that environmental toxins are associated. Some professionals believe it is a combination of these. 

There is also the widely debated theory of injury to the head, neck, and spine. While the link between trauma and MS has never been formally proven, many believe this to be factual. Some professionals suggest that the precise impact to the central nervous system, through whiplash, concussion, or similar trauma, will either cause MS to develop or once subtle symptoms to worsen. Some researchers believe that trauma to the central nervous system may alter the blood-brain-barrier, which many consider to be a critical step in the formation of MS lesions (plaques.) Other researchers have recognized through MRI the relationship of cervical (neck) spinal cord injury and the formation of MS plaques. 

More and more health care practitioners are documenting cases of MS diagnosis after trauma. Practitioners state that after treating individuals for head or neck trauma, perhaps after auto or sports accidents, some are diagnosed with MS soon after. In addition, medical professionals are noting that many patients already diagnosed with MS have exacerbations following a new traumatic event.  There are some practitioners who believe that the problem is isolated in the neck - that the cervical vertebrae become dislodged or misaligned by trauma, which can interfere with the central nervous system. 

More research is needed to determine the causal factors for Multiple Sclerosis.  Until then, there are a variety of treatments and support systems available for patients that are only a search engine away. If you have questions or concerns about this illness, please discuss them with your health care professional. ]]></description>
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<title>What You Need to Know About Wheelchairs</title>
<link>http://www.populate.net/Health/Diseases_and_Conditions/multiple-sclerosis/what-you-need-to-know-about-wheelchairs.html</link>
<guid>http://www.populate.net/Health/Diseases_and_Conditions/multiple-sclerosis/what-you-need-to-know-about-wheelchairs.html</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 14 Dec 2007 00:00:00 -0800</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ Wheelchairs are most commonly used by people who have restrictions on their mobility. A wheelchair allows you to move around with greater freedom than you may have once had without it. They provide mobility to those who would otherwise be limited or completely unable to move their legs... but that doesn't mean that they are only for those who are unable to walk. Many people who use them are still able to walk but simply are not as mobile without it. 

For example, if you have severe arthritis in your legs, heart trouble, or a weight concern, a wheelchair will allow you to move about with great freedom and without fear that your health challenges will get in the way.

There are several options available for you to enjoy. Thank goodness that we no longer live in the day and age of the wooden wheelchair of a century ago with its giant front wheels and tiny back wheels, those looked cumbersome and unstable, even if they were built with the best intentions.

Today's wheelchairs are truly state of the art. They are lighter and stronger than when they were originally constructed from wood: they are made of such materials that they can withstand a great amount of wear and tear but are not very heavy. They do not necessarily require someone to push around the person seated in the chair...quite often the person seated in the wheelchair can move themselves about very easily, by rolling the larger wheels (now in the rear).

As well, these wheelchairs can come with adaptations to make them electric powered...the user can simply attach a battery and they are able to use a small joystick device to get around. The main benefit of these wheelchairs is the freedom and mobility that the user enjoys. With technological advances in the manufacturing of these devices, the user can move around with a great deal of ease and comfort.

Unfortunately, there are drawbacks, too. The biggest drawback is not in the wheelchair itself but rather in the design of buildings and city streets. When they were designed and built, wheelchair accessibility was not forefront in their minds. Today, many laws are in place to ensure that retrofitting and remodeling take place to allow users the freedom to get around. But the reality is that this retrofitting is not complete: there is still a lot of work to be done. However, wheelchair users can rest assured that changes are being made and wheelchairs are increasingly being designed to help users make it through narrow doorways or over high curbs with greater ease.

What else is available in the mobility industry? There are many devices that can help you get around a little more easily. Electric stair ascenders are a great device where the wheelchair user simply sits on the platform and presses a button and the platform rises along a track installed parallel to the staircase. Think of it like a cross between an elevator (which is completely vertical) and an escalator) which is diagonal and it doesn't restrict stairway use for those who do not use wheelchairs! ]]></description>
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