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    • Multiple Sclerosis
    • Guide
    • Overview
      • What Is Multiple Sclerosis?
      • MS in Women
      • MS in Children
      • MS in People of Color
    • Types
      • What Are the Different Types of MS?
      • Relapsing-Remitting
      • Secondary Progressive
      • Other Types of Multiple Sclerosis
    • Symptoms
      • MS Symptoms & Early Warning Signs
      • Fatigue
      • Pain
      • Spasticity
      • Flare-Ups
    • Causes & Risks
    • Tests & Diagnosis
    • Treatment
      • Treatments for MS
      • Disease-Modifying Therapy
      • Acute Flareups
      • Symptom Management
      • Complementary & Alternative Medicine
    • Living With
      • Daily Living
      • Seasonal Changes
      • Diet & Exercise
      • Emotional & Mental Health
      • Work, Family & Relationships
      • Other Questions About Multiple Sclerosis
    • Mobility & Assistive Devices
    • Complications
      • Complications From MS
      • Brain & Nervous System
      • Bladder & Gastrointestinal
      • Other Complications
    • Caregiving & Support
    • View Full Guide

    Overview

    Multiple sclerosis is a mysterious, often frustrating disease. Learn what scientists know about MS -- what seems to trigger it, and its effect on the nervous system.

    1. What Is Multiple Sclerosis?

      1. What Is Multiple Sclerosis (MS)?

        MS is a disease that can affect your brain and spinal cord, and can cause problems with vision, balance, muscle control.

      2. Frequently Asked Questions About MS

        We answer some of the most common questions about multiple sclerosis.

      3. Myths and Facts About Multiple Sclerosis

        It's easy these days to pick up wrong-headed ideas about how to manage your multiple sclerosis (MS). So take a few minutes now to sort out fact from fiction.

      4. MS and Your Immune System

        MS is a disease that stems from your immune system’s overreaction and that it attacks your own body.

      5. How MS Progresses

        As you learn more about they type of MS you have, you'll have a clearer idea how it may affect you in the coming years.

      6. Conditions That Look Like MS

        Many other conditions have symptoms similar to those of MS. Your doctor will need to rule out these other conditions before diagnosing you with MS.

      7. Demyelinating Diseases

        MS is a disease that can affect myelin, the protective coating of the nerves.

    2. MS in Women

      1. Why MS Affects More Women Than Men

        Women with MS outnumber men with the condition by nearly 4 to 1. Experts have a few theories that might explain the sex differences in MS rates.

      2. Are Women's MS Symptoms Worse?

        Not only does MS affect more women than men, but some research says that MS symptoms may also hit women harder than men.

      3. The Link Between Hormones and MS

        Studies show hormones may also affect how MS plays out in your body, how much damage it does, and your odds of having the disease in the first place.

      4. Treating Multiple Sclerosis in Women

        The right multiple sclerosis (MS) treatment can slow your disease and reduce the number of attacks you get. But if you're a woman, choosing a treatment becomes more challenging.

      5. How MS Affects Aging Women

        Multiple sclerosis (MS) can add to the challenges of aging. Walking, balance, bone strength, and bladder control all become bigger issues in older women with MS than in those without it.

      6. Have a Healthy Pregnancy With MS

        If you want to start a family, multiple sclerosis (MS) doesn’t have to stop you. It doesn’t keep you from getting pregnant or hurt your unborn baby.

    3. MS in Children

      1. Multiple Sclerosis (MS) in Children

        Multiple sclerosis happens most often in adults, but doctors are diagnosing more children and teenagers with the condition.

      2. What Is Schilder's Disease?

        Schilder's disease is a rare condition that usually starts in childhood. It's most common in boys between 7 and 12 years old.

    4. MS in People of Color

      1. MS in the Black Community

        At one time, doctors thought that multiple sclerosis (MS) happened mostly among young white women. That turned out not to be true.

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      Related Links

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