OhioHealth Medical Minute: Multiple Sclerosis Awareness

March is Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Month.  According to National MS Society, Multiple Sclerosis is an unpredictable and potentially disabling disease of the central nervous system, which interrupts the flow of information within the brain, and between the brain and body.

The disease is thought to be triggered in a genetically susceptible individual by a combination of one or more environmental factors.

In MS, the immune system attacks tissue and cells within the central nervous system (CNS) and causes damage to nerve connections resulting in neurological symptoms.

Although MS is thought by some scientists to be an autoimmune disease, others disagree because the specific target of the immune attack in MS has not yet been identified.

For this reason, MS is referred to as an immune-mediated disease.

Lauren Esposito is a physical therapist with OhioHealth Neurological Rehab. She says there are critically important things for MS patients to keep in mind as they navigate the landscape of their disease.

Specifically, exercise is very important, diet can play a role too. But patients and their family members should not underestimate the importance of overall wellness.

Additionally, some are finding their way to a program through OhioHealth called MS Wellness. The 12 week program incorporates movement and exercise into their lives, and those who have taken the program are showing some promising results.

If you would like to learn more, search multiple sclerosis at OhioHealth.com.