Join hands for World MS Day
Thousands of individuals from across the globe will create much-needed awareness for Multiple Sclerosis on Wednesday, 31 May.
BE part of the global community and help celebrate solidarity and hope for the future on Wednesday, 31 May by creating awareness for Multiple Sclerosis.
World MS Day is officially marked on the last Wednesday of May. It was introduced to bring the global community together to share their stories and help raise awareness about the autoimmune disease.
“If ever there was a prize for the condition that wreaks the most havoc within the human body and mind, it would go to Multiple Sclerosis, hands down. It is unpredictable and disabling,” said MS patient, Mala Naidoo.
According to medical science there is no cure for MS and a minuscule understanding as to what causes this condition.
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It affects the brain and spinal cord and is a disease of the central nervous system that disrupts the flow of information within the brain, and between the brain and body.
The progress, severity and specific symptoms of MS in any one person cannot yet be predicted. Most people with MS are diagnosed between the ages of 20 and 40, with at least two to three times more women than men being diagnosed with the disease.
“Many investigators believe MS to be an autoimmune disease – one in which the body, through its immune system, launches a defensive attack against its own tissues.”
“Why this happens is the million dollar question. In MS, the body’s own immune system attacks the myelin sheath which wraps around your nerve fibres to protect them. Without this outer shell, your nerves become damaged.
“MS is a disorder of the central nervous system marked by weakness, numbness, a loss of muscle coordination, extreme fatigue and problems with vision, speech, and bladder control.”
” Most people with MS have attacks, also called relapses, when the condition gets noticeably worse. They’re usually followed by times of recovery when symptoms improve. For other people, the disease continues to get worse over time,” said Naidoo.
“MS fatigue is way past a feeling of tired – it is to the point of absolute exhaustion. It’s the feeling that each limb is 100kgs heavier than it is! Just walking the few steps to a bathroom is daunting and overwhelming,” said Naidoo as she described the debilitating condition.
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Dee Munks, chairman of the Multiple Sclerosis South Africa KZN branch, said extreme heat and the slightest form of stress could make the condition worse.
“Surrounding a MS patient with love, respect and understanding ignites healing. One should respect how a MS patient feels free of judgement. The MS symptoms can become severe at any time of the day. MS patients need the support and encouragement of their family, friends, work colleagues and community to manage and cope with this devastating condition,” she said.
For more information on Multiple Sclerosis, contact Dee Munks on 083 411 4282 or Mala Naidoo via e-mail at staffwellness@iafrica.com.
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