What type of disorder is multiple sclerosis? What does it mean?
An autoimmune disorder. This means that the T cells that usually ward off bacteria and viruses atatck the brain and spinal cord, damaging the covering of the nerves.
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Is there a cure for mulitple sclerosis? If so what is it?
There is no cure for multiple sclerosis but there are various medical interventions that have been proven to help alleviate symptoms and improve quality of life.
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When do symptoms usually start manifesting themselves? *at what age
Usually between the ages of 20-40 but a person can get multiple sclerosis at any point in there life.
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How much more likely are women to get multiple sclerosis than men?
Women are 2-3 times more likely than men to get multiple sclerosis.
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What is an important thing to remember when talking to a person with multiple sclerosis?
Talk slowly and allow them time to answer as many people with MS have cognitive difficulties that would affect their ability to form thoughts and remember things.
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What is the name of the part of the nerve that gets damaged in people who have multiple sclerosis?
Myelin Sheath
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What is one type of treatment that can help improve quality of life?
Physical Therapy
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What are 4 symptoms of multiple sclerosis?
Blurred vision, blader/bowel problems such as urinary incontinece, loss of balance, clumsiness, weakness in an arm or leg, major depression, fatigue.
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How many people out of a 1000 are said to be affected by multiple sclerosis?
1
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Is care for a person with multiple sclerosis always the same?
No, people with MS can vary greatly in their symptoms from person to person and from time to time depending on the type of MS.
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What type of disease is multiple sclerosis?
Multiple sclerosis is a chronic and usually progressive disease.
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What types of drugs have been found to help alter the direction of the diesease/ alleviate symptoms?
drugs such as Betaseron, Avonex, Rebif, Copaxone, Tysabri, and Novantrone
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What type of tests are used to diagnose multiple sclerosis?
MRI, Spinal tap, evoked potentials
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How many people in the world are living with multiple sclerosis?
About 2.5 million people worldwide.
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What is one ADL that you can assist with and encourage a person with MS to do?
Ambulating, but make sure to offer periods of rest as well.
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Although it is unknown what causes multiple sclerosis what are 2 reasons that scientists have found could lead to multiple sclerosis?
Genetic factors, there is no one gene that has been found yet but the closer the relation to a person with multiple sclerosis increases your chance of getting the disease. Environmental factors, expecially in the first 10-15 years of life.
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What effect are these drugs aimed to have?
They are used to help reduce the amount and severity of attacks, supress T cells from damaging the myelin, and reducing inflamation of the myelin.
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Why is it so difficult to diagnose multiple sclerosis?
Everyone experiences different symptoms at different times and to varying degrees. In addition, there is no one test that can tell you with complete certainty that a person has multiple sclerosis.
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Multiple sclerosis is about 5 times more likely in what type of climate/region.
In temperate climates such as the northern United States, Canada, and Europe
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What is another important task that will help a person with MS maintaing good muscles?
Range of Motion is an important part of Nursing Assistant care.
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List 2 things that are affected in people with multiple sclerosis. Why?
Body movement because the damaged myelin mean that the messages being sent throughout the body will be negativley affected. (spasms can occur) Various body functions are also affected.
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What have steroids been shown to do if used as part of a persons treatment?
Steroids have been shown to shorten the duration of acute attacks.
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What is a large part deciding the diagnosis for a person?
A complete health/ neuroligical history, and a detalied discussion of a persons symptoms.
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What is an interesting fact regarding the development of multiple sclerosis as far as genetics is concerned?
Multiple sclerosis has been found to skip a generation.
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What is one thing to remember for the diet of a perosn with MS?
Make sure to offer pleanty of fluids and a healthy balanced diet.