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MS Symptoms - Why Are They So Hard to Spot? - Oren Zarif


MS Symptoms - Why Are They So Hard to Spot? - Oren Zarif
MS Symptoms - Why Are They So Hard to Spot? - Oren Zarif

MS sufferers must face the fact that they may have to face multiple sclerosis symptoms at one time. The symptoms may vary according to the place of occurrence. For example, headaches are common in the morning, as are sudden weakness and fatigue. However, in between these two categories would be other MS symptoms, for example, blurred vision, decreased hearing or smell, mouth pain and so on. The symptoms may also vary based on the type of MS. For example, a patient may have one type of MS, yet may suffer another as part of another type of MS.



MS sufferers have to face up to the fact that they will need to cope with different types of MS symptoms, at least at the onset. For instance, they will have to deal with the impact of the multiple sclerosis on their emotional and mental state. Often this is referred to as emotional exhaustion. There will be periods when a person may have difficulty sleeping because of the extreme fatigue. There may also be a loss of interest in things such as sex or movement.


The other MS symptoms that will have an impact on a person's life include problems with their cognition, depression and changes in personality. The cognitive problems will include poor short-term memory, inability to concentrate, poor abstract thinking, poor working memory, poor decision-making and so on. In addition, depression will be a common experience for the MS sufferer. There will be regular changes in personality, for example, the person may become more introverted, aggressive, violent, depressed or moody.



Other MS symptoms include gastrointestinal problems including constipation or diarrhea, flatulence, bloating, and the inability to control the release of bile. Dizziness, lightheadedness or sweating are also common. The changes in personality include being more easily agitated, withdrawing, having poor concentration, or suffering from depression. There can also be changes in behaviour such as developing motor problems, or developing speech difficulties or a reduction in speech.



If left untreated there is a chance of the presence of depression, anxiety and a deterioration of quality of life. However, there is some MS treatment that can help a person to control depression, anxiety and the other MS symptoms, and reduce the impact of depression on the sufferer's ability to live a normal life. This can often be done in conjunction with standard treatments for MS. Some of these treatments include lifestyle changes such as increasing the amount of physical activity, getting enough sleep and reducing stress through relaxation techniques, and controlling weight gain and control through diet.



There are many different symptoms and different levels of severity. However, there is a great deal of research currently being conducted on the understanding of MS. It is hoped that a greater understanding will eventually lead to a development of drugs that will be able to successfully treat the symptoms of MS. Currently there are no cures for MS but there are ways of managing the first signs of the disease and controlling them so they do not cause too much damage to the sufferer. MS patients are encouraged to learn as much about the disease as possible.



Spasticity is one of the MS symptoms that can be easily seen. The term spasticity simply refers to the fact that muscles become stiff and often lose their tone, which makes the movements of the joints of the body difficult to control. This can also be accompanied by fatigue and fatigueiness, as well as an increase in muscular pain. The fatigue usually occurs initially and then increases in intensity over time. Spasticity can affect anyone at any age, although it is more commonly found in younger people who are growing up.


Nerve demyelination refers to the loss of myelin in the brain and can be either complete, where all nerves to the muscle are lost, or only part of a section of the nerve. This may include only the fibromyalgia muscles, or the leg muscles. Another common MS symptom is a relative lack of concentration. While it is not clear from what, concentration may become more difficult as a person ages. MS symptoms such as these should not be ignored but should be discussed with your GP, MS nurse or neurologist as soon as possible.


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