The University of Maryland Medical Center, or UMMC, points out that multiple sclerosis, or MS, affects 2.5 million people in the world. Patients with MS suffer a destruction of the myelin sheaths that coat their neurons. Without a fully functional myelin sheath, neural communication breaks down. MedlinePlus explains that MS becomes progressively worse, affecting multiple bodily functions.
Age of Onset
MedlinePlus notes that the onset of MS symptoms commonly occurs between ages 20 and 40. The onset of the disorder can happen at any age though. UMMC points out that MS rarely starts in younger people, before the age of 15, or in the elderly, after the age of 60. MS is a lifelong disorder.
Triggers
The symptoms of MS can become triggered by certain events. For example, MedlinePlus explains that stress can trigger symptoms in patients. Exposure to heat, such as from a fever, time outside under the sun or hot baths, are also MS triggers. These triggers can also worsen existing MS symptoms.
Symptoms
The symptoms of MS depend on which type of nerve becomes affected. Damage to the sensory nerves causes changes in sensation, damage to motor nerves causes movement problems and damage to the autonomic nerves affects internal organs, such as the bladder. The Merck Manual Home Edition points out that patients can have vague symptoms of demyelination for some time before a doctor diagnoses them with MS. The vague symptoms of demyelination include changes in sensation, such as a reduced sense of touch or burning, or numbness or tingling in different parts of the body. Patients may lose strength in a limb. Other symptoms of MS include blurred vision, sexual dysfunction, problems controlling the bowels or bladder, depression, memory loss and dizziness.
Factors That Affect Onset
UMMC points out that birth control pills may delay the onset of MS. Combination birth control pills contain both synthetic estrogen and progesterone, which prevent pregnancies. The high estrogen levels may delay the onset of MS in women who take them. UMMC notes, however, that the risk increases six months after giving birth.
Considerations
Once the onset of MS occurs, patients may have remissions, in which they have no symptoms or a reduced number or severity of symptoms. The Merck Manual Home Edition notes that these remissions may last for months or years. Other patients may have worsening symptoms without any remissions. As the disorder progresses, symptoms can become worse. For example, patients may develop paralysis, mania or dementia.
