Multiple Sclerosis Disability

Multiple sclerosis disability comprises both physical and cognitive disabilities. Physical disabilities are manifested through loss of locomotors function, muscle weakness, numbness and tingling. Speech and vision problems are also classified as disabling conditions that manifest in some MS sufferers. MS is defined as a nerve condition, whereby an individuals immune system eats at the protective brain cover (myelin) that protects the nerves. This hampers communication between the brain and other parts of the body. Ultimately, the condition may lead to an irreversible deterioration of the bodys nerves and at this stage a person may loose his motor abilities or the ability to speak.

Multiple sclerosis disability is not a straight-forward disease to diagnose especially during its initial stages. This is especially so because the symptoms are inconsistent, sometimes appearing for a short time, only to disappear for a long period of time. The symptoms vary depending on the affected nerves. However, they include:
* Weakness or numbness in limbs usually occurring repeatedly on one side of the body
* Complete or partial loss of sight (optic neuritis). This usually occurs at different times on each eye
* Blurred or double vision
* Pain or acute tingling of specific parts of the body
* Electric shock-like sensations, which occur when a person moves the head in specific motions
* Tremor, unsteady gait and lack of the ability to coordinate ones body movements
* Dizziness
* Fatigue
These symptoms usually disappear in the initial stages of the disease only to reappear later. Medics however reckon that an increase of temperature in the body triggers or worsens the severity of the MS symptoms.

Medics compare myelin with the insulation cover put on electrical wires. By MS destroying myelin, the messages transmitted from the brain to other parts of the body through the nerves are either blocked or slowed. Blockages lead to more severe disabilities.

Multiple Sclerosis disability usually occurs in people who are 20 to 40 years old. The condition is twice as prevalent in women as it is in men. More to this, genetic predisposition is also a risk factor. Statistics indicate that people with family history of the condition have an average 2 percent risk of developing the same.

Multiple sclerosis disability is also linked to the Epstein - Barr virus, which cause infectious mononucleosis. This is however yet to receive a scientific backing. People of European origin are also at a higher risk of developing MS compared to people of African, Native American or African origin. It is also thought that temperate climates place a person at an increased risk.