What does it mean to have multiple sclerosis?

When people think of lifestyle changes, they often imagine a new job, new member of the family, or trying to eat right. A diagnosis of multiple sclerosis (MS) is a lifestyle change that few people think of, and that fewer people fully understand. Thanks to Dr. Shazaib Tariq and his colleagues at Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center, we can take a deeper look at this disease and what effects it may have.

What is MS?

“MS is an autoimmune disease that has both an inflammation and a neurodegenerative aspect,” explains Dr. Tariq. As a neurohospitalist at EIRMC, his primary focus is providing care within the hospital to individuals with neurological issues before they are released.

The main cause of MS is demyelination, or the slow destruction of the fatty sheath on your neurons. When the sheath is damaged, it can cause a variety of symptoms. Dr. Tariq shares, “Symptoms, or episodes, last for several hours or longer. A good way to think of it is like an autoimmune stroke that hits all of a sudden and takes time to resolve.”

Any change that is sudden and out of the ordinary, regardless of whether MS is suspected, should be looked into. This may include eye pain, blurry vision, weakness or numbness on one side of the body, and even a sudden difficulty of bowel and bladder control. Then, diagnosing and treatment can begin if needed.

Who is at risk for MS?

There is no way to predict who may develop MS, but there are several at-risk groups and additional factors that have been identified. Women are more at risk to develop MS, usually between ages 25-40.

Although it was previously thought that the white population was more at risk for MS, this narrative is increasingly being challenged, as data show other races might be more at risk than previously thought, African-Americans and Hispanics might show more severe form of disease.

While anyone can develop MS, it is more likely that smoking, unhealthy eating habits and childhood obesity play a part.

“We recommend maintaining a healthy lifestyle not only to prevent potential development of MS, but to help overall health,” Dr. Tariq added. 

How do professionals diagnose MS?

MS is a difficult disease to diagnose as it does have symptoms that are similar to other health issues, such as strokes or dementia.

“There are criteria for a clinical examination to determine if it is really MS or something else. We need clinical evidence based on guidelines and imaging to help us be sure it is MS,” Dr. Tariq says.

While it is important to provide details about the symptoms you are experiencing and how often, full medical history can also provide clues to help with the diagnosis and treatment plan.

Help is available

As MS in an autoimmune disease, treatment does vary from patient to patient. The No. 1 focus of treatment is to get the disease into NEDA status, or “no evidence of disease activity.”

“If you are in the hospital, usually you will be given a high dose steroid for several days to recover and reduce inflammation as well as to treat symptoms before we look further. As an outpatient, immunosuppression and monitoring activities will be done with either self-injecting medication, or medication, or IV infusions monthly or every six months,” Dr. Tariq explains. 

Regardless of the treatment recommended, the ultimate deciding factor is patient response. Treating MS is a lifelong commitment and can be impacted by family planning, pregnancy, and other habits- the last thing that providers want is to prescribe medication that will hinder other aspects of the patient’s life or need to be heavily altered in the future.

What are next steps?

If you believe that you may be experiencing symptoms of MS, don’t be afraid to ask for help. Reach out to your primary care doctor; they can make referrals to see a neurologist and begin to help you understand options for potential outcomes.

“Asking for help is nothing to be ashamed of,” Dr. Tariq assures. “You are not wrong for asking for help.”