Managing Multiple Sclerosis, Together
Multiple Sclerosis (MS) affects about 1 in 400 Canadians, and while it currently has no cure, there are many therapies and medications to help treat the symptoms. Talk to your pharmacist about multiple sclerosis treatments and strategies to help manage the condition.
What is Multiple Sclerosis?
MS is a chronic condition that affects the central nervous system. This system includes the brain and spinal cord. It contains the nerves that control everything your body does: thinking, feeling, seeing, smelling, tasting, and moving. MS affects about 1 in 400 Canadians and usually appears between the ages of 20 and 49, although it may occur at any age.
Your nerves are covered by an intact protective layer known as the myelin sheath. This covering helps to speed up electrical signals in the brain. With MS, researchers think that the myelin sheath somehow becomes inflamed and damaged in small patches. It is not known what chain of events starts this damage, but once the injury occurs, electrical signals in the brain are slowed down. It is believed that MS is an autoimmune disease (a condition in which an individual's immune system starts reacting against his or her own tissues) and cannot be spread from person to person.
There are 3 types of MS
Relapsing-remitting MS
Relapsing-remitting MS is the most common form of MS, affecting 85% to 90% of people with the condition at onset. This type of MS is associated with "flare-ups" where symptoms worsen for weeks or months, and with remissions where symptoms completely or partially improve.
Primary-progressive MS
Primary-progressive MS affects 10% to 15% of people with MS and is associated with slow, but mostly continuous, worsening of the disease from the time of onset.
Secondary-progressive MS
Secondary-progressive MS is associated with an initial period of relapsing-remitting disease followed by steady worsening and minor remissions. Approximately 65% of people with relapsing-remitting MS will develop this form of MS within 15 to 20 years.
Speak to your Rexall Pharmacist
If you're taking medication(s) for MS, your pharmacist can help you manage symptoms and side effects, review your medications, and more.
Frequently Asked Questions
What causes MS?
The cause of MS is still unknown. However, most research suggests that an abnormal response by the immune system damages the myelin sheath. Normally, the immune system protects and defends the body against foreign substances. But with autoimmune diseases, the body attacks its own tissue. Researchers don't know exactly what causes the immune system to do this, but they know that certain factors are involved, including gender, family history of MS, environmental factors and infections.
What are the symptoms of MS?
MS is unpredictable and affects each person in a different way. People can experience different symptoms of varying severities during an attack. The type of symptoms depends on the location of the damage. Symptoms commonly include:
- bladder problems, such as urinary incontinence
- bowel problems, such as constipation
- cognitive problems (e.g., memory loss)
- difficulty walking
- dizziness and sensations of spinning
- extreme tiredness
- headache
- hearing loss
- itching
- mental health problems (e.g., depression)
- muscle stiffness or spasms
- numbness and tingling
- pain
- seizures
- sexual problems, such as reduced sensation, decrease in sex drive, and problems maintaining an erection
- speech and swallowing problems
- shaking
- vision problems
How is MS treated?
Although no cure exists for MS, treatment aims to reduce the number of relapses or attacks, and to lessen their severity when they do occur. High doses of steroids (given either intravenously or orally) are used to treat relapses. A variety of other medications and lifestyle interventions may be used to help manage symptoms.
How can my pharmacist help with MS treatment?
Your pharmacist can help you understand your disease-modifying medications, provide injection training for injectable medications, manage side effects, coordinate medication refills, identify potential drug interactions, and provide support and education throughout your treatment journey.
What lifestyle measures may help reduce MS symptoms?
Lifestyle measures to help reduce the burden of symptoms include getting a yearly flu shot, avoiding and minimizing stress, avoiding heat, such as in whirlpools and hot showers, exercising moderately, and doing muscle-stretching exercises.
All material copyright MediResource Inc. 1996 – 2025. Terms and conditions of use. The contents herein are for informational purposes only. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Source: www.medbroadcast.com/condition/getcondition/Multiple-Sclerosis