The MS Facts You Need to Know

Although there is not yet a cure for multiple sclerosis (MS), hundreds of thousands of people in the United States are living with it – approximately 400,000 people to be exact, and of that, as many as 86% list fatigue as the number one symptom of their disease. The cause of MS is not known; it is not contagious or known to be directly passed down from one family member to another, but there are some known factors that may play a role. Consider these MS facts:

• Gender – Women are affected more than twice as often as men
• Age – Most people are diagnosed between the ages of 20 and 50
• Geography – The majority of people with multiple sclerosis live in moderate climates
• Ethnic background – Caucasians are at a heightened risk

It is believed that multiple sclerosis symptoms result when an immune system attack affects myelin, the protective insulation surrounding nerve fibers of the central nervous system. For individuals with multiple sclerosis, myelin is destroyed and replaced by scars of toughened sclerotic tissue. Some underlying nerve fibers are permanently cut off, and the damage manifests in multiple places within the central nervous system — providing the disease with its name.

While no cure for multiple sclerosis has been found yet, a few FDA-approved medications are available for the long-term treatment of MS. These drugs have been shown to lessen the number and severity of MS flare-ups, and possibly postpone disease progression. In addition, numerous therapeutic and technological advances are assisting those with MS to manage symptoms.

If your loved one with multiple sclerosis lives in Marin, Sonoma, Napa counties or the Tri-Valley in California, contact Hired Hands Homecare to learn more MS facts and to find out how our senior caregivers can help a person with MS to feel enabled, motivated and connected to others, through services such as:

• Transportation and accompaniment to medical appointments, to run errands, or just to enjoy a fun outing
• Planning and preparation of healthy, nutritious meals
• Assistance with participating in exercise programs
• Running errands
• Sharing in friendly conversation and companionship to stave off feelings of loneliness, isolation and depression

Feel free to contact us anytime for assistance at (866) 940-4343.

Living with Multiple Sclerosis