What is multiple sclerosis?
Who gets multiple sclerosis?
What are some common symptoms?
Why do MS symptoms develop?
What causes MS?
How many people have MS?
Is MS fatal?
Does MS change over time?
Are there treatments for MS?
Is MS contagious?
Is there hope for a cure?
What other role does the MS Society of Canada have?
What does the MS Society do in government relations and social action?
What can I do to live well with MS?
What research is being carried out?
What are recommended publications about MS?
What is multiple sclerosis?
Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a chronic, unpredictable, often disabling autoimmune disease of the central nervous system – the brain and spinal cord. For more information:
www.mssociety.ca/en/information/faq.htm#1
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Who gets multiple sclerosis?
Multiple sclerosis can occur at any age. It is often diagnosed between the ages of 15 to 40, during the career and family building years. For more information:
www.mssociety.ca/en/information/faq.htm#2
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Whatare some common MS symptoms?
MS symptoms are unpredictable and vary greatly from person to person. Symptoms may include: visual disturbances; speech problems; changes in sensation such as numbness or pain; loss of coordination or balance; bladder and bowel problems; stiffness of muscles, weakening or paralysis of any part of the body; unusual and extreme fatigue, and mood or cognitive changes. For more information:
www.mssociety.ca/en/information/symptoms.htm
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Why do MS symptoms develop?
MS attacks the protective covering – myelin – of the brain and spinal cord causing inflammation and often damaging the myelin in patches. When this happens, the usual flow of nerve impulses along nerve fibres (axons) is interrupted or distorted. The result may be the wide variety of MS symptoms, depending upon what part or parts of the central nervous system are affected. For more information:
www.mssociety.ca/en/information/faq.htm#4
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What causes MS?
Many researchers agree that MS is a “multi-factorial” disease, meaning it's caused by more than one thing. At the present time, we don’t know what causes MS although there are a number of theories. For more information:
www.mssociety.ca/en/information/faq.htm#5
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How many people have MS?
An estimated 55,000 – 75,000 Canadians have multiple sclerosis. Prevalence rates range from one MS case per 500 people to one in 1,000 across the country. For more information:
www.mssociety.ca/en/information/faq.htm#6
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Is MS fatal?
MS is not a fatal disease for the vast majority of people with MS. For more information:
www.mssociety.ca/en/information/faq.htm#7
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Does MS change over time?
Most people are diagnosed with the relapsing-remitting form of MS. Over time, some people in this category develop secondary-progressive MS while others may have mild attacks but do not worsen. They are considered to have benign MS. For more information visit www.mssociety.ca/en/information/types.htm
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Are there treatments for MS?
Since 1995, four specific therapies for relapsing forms of MS have been available in Canada. For more information:
www.mssociety.ca/en/treatments/default.htm
www.mssociety.ca/en/information/symptoms.htm
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Is MS contagious?
No, MS is not contagious. For more information:
www.mssociety.ca/en/information/faq.htm#10
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Is there hope for a cure?
Absolutely. Researchers are learning more about what causes MS everyday and zeroing in on ways to prevent it. For more information:
www.mssociety.ca/en/information/faq.htm#11
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What other role does the MS Society of Canada have?
Besides funding MS research, the MS Society provides services for people who have MS, family members, caregivers and health care professionals. These services are delivered through the network of divisions and chapters across Canada. For more information:
www.mssociety.ca/en/information/faq.htm#12
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What does the MS Society do in government relations and social action?
The MS Society works with people who have MS to ensure they have the opportunity to participate fully in all aspects of life. The MS Society works to change government policies at all levels, private industry practices and public attitudes in positive ways. For more information:
www.mssociety.ca/en/information/faq.htm#13
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What can I do to live well with MS?
MS can affect different areas of your life and may change how you do various activities. If you sometimes feel overwhelmed with how MS is affecting your life, or are considering giving up an activity that you love to do, we've compiled ome tips that may stir your own imagination to find new approaches to living with MS at www.mssociety.ca/en/information/tips2.htm
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What MS research is being carried out?
The MS Society of Canada is a world-wide leader in research funding aimed towards finding a cure for MS. Since its inception in 1948, the MS Society of Canada has invested more than $92 million in research. Working together with the MS Society, the MS Scientific Research Foundation funds specific research projects, including studies focused on the following areas: genetic susceptibility; pediatric MS; stem cell research; bone marrow transplantation. For more information:
www.mssociety.ca/en/research/default.htm
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What are some recommended publications about MS?
You can find MS Society of Canada publications and a recommended reading list at:
www.mssociety.ca/en/information/references.htm
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