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Symptoms and Causes of Multiple Sclerosis

Symptoms of Multiple Sclerosis

The symptoms of multiple sclerosis (MS) can vary among individuals. Some patients experience few of the common symptoms, while others experience many symptoms. Typically, the symptoms include sensory disturbances, such as numbness, a tingling sensation, heat intolerance, and electric shock sensations when bending the neck; symptoms involving control of voluntary muscles, such as weakness, trouble walking, balance problems, muscle stiffness or spasms, and partial or complete paralysis; and other symptoms, such as vision problems, speech problems, loss of bladder or bowel control, and fatigue. The severity of symptoms also varies from patient to patient.

Damaged myelin sheath of a nerve cell.

Causes of Multiple Sclerosis

The cause of multiple sclerosis is unknown. Evidence strongly suggests that multiple sclerosis is an autoimmune disease that causes a person's immune system to attack the myelin-producing cells of the brain and spinal cord. Damage to myelin impairs the ability of the brain and spinal cord to send and receive messages.

The incidence of multiple sclerosis is slightly higher in patients with close relatives who have multiple sclerosis, but the incidence is not high enough to label multiple sclerosis a hereditary illness.