Frequently Asked Questions
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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What are 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
some 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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