Multiple Sclerosis explained

Risk factors
MS is twice as common in women as in men and more common among Caucasians than other races. Some populations, such as Eskimos and Bantus, rarely, if ever, are diagnosed with the disease. The incidence rate among Asian populations is very low. Research has shown that MS occurs more frequently in higher latitudes. In other words, the closer you are to the equator or the more tropical your climate, the less likely your chances of developing MS. The disease is five times more prevalent in the northern United States, Canada and northern Europe than in other parts of the world. But researchers don't know if this is due to genetic or environmental factors. The cause of MS is still unknown. Some researchers believe it could be caused by a virus, although it is unlikely that there is just one MS virus. Researchers do know that MS is not contagious. And while it is not an inherited disease, genetic susceptibility has a role. There is a higher risk for MS in families where it has already occurred. Children or siblings of a person with MS have a one per cent chance of developing the disease. The identical twin of a person with MS has a 33 per cent chance of developing MS. [anchor tag]

Diagnosis
Most people with MS begin experiencing symptoms between the ages of 20 and 40. But the initial symptoms may be vague, may come and go with no pattern or be attributed to other factors or conditions. For instance, a woman who experiences sudden bouts of vertigo once every few months may explain away the symptom by linking it to her menstrual cycle. Or, perhaps, someone who suddenly has a bit of blurry vision may see putting in too many hours at the office as the culprit.

Diagnosing MS involves several tests and a lot of discussions with doctors. You will probably have a complete physical examination, a discussion of your medical history, and a review of your past and/or current symptoms. You should pay attention to any symptom suggestive of MS. Early diagnosis of MS is important because a new generation of treatments introduced in the 1990s can reduce the frequency and severity of MS attacks. In fact, new research has prompted doctors to change the diagnostic criteria in order to treat more cases of MS early.

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