Multiple Sclerosis or MS is a condition of the central nervous system which affects the nerves in the brain and spinal cord. The damage appears to be caused by the immune system mistakenly attacking a coating around the nerve called myelin.
MS is a lifelong condition and is the most common condition of the central nervous system affecting young adults. About 100 people are diagnosed with MS weekly in the UK. Although it can be diagnosed at any age, the majority of people are diagnosed in their 20s and 30s. It can cause serious disability, but it is possible to control symptoms and life expectancy is very good.
Over 100,000 people in the UK have MS and it is nearly three times more common to present in women than in men. Symptoms in MS are very wide ranging and are particular to each individual. Not everyone will experience the same symptoms and they may even vary day to day for each person.
If you are worried you may be experiencing the early signs of MS, please see your GP, or consult the MS Society or Multiple Sclerosis Trust.
