Symptoms of MS in Women

Did You Know?

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is three times more common in women than men.

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a medical condition which affects the central nervous system. The central nervous system of the human body comprises the brain and the spinal cord, besides the millions of nerve cells that are connected by nerve fibers. Cells called neurons are the basic units of the nervous system.

Some of the nerve cells carry the vital task of conducting or transmitting nerve impulses, which are electrical signals that carry messages throughout the body. These neurons are protected by a covering or sheath made of a fatty substance called myelin, which also acts like an electrical insulator.

MS is considered to be an immune-mediated disorder, as it occurs when the immune system mistakenly attacks the myelin sheath. When the myelin sheath that envelops the nerves breaks down, the nerves are unable to transmit electric signals between the brain, spinal cord, and the rest of the body effectively. This gives rise to a host of distressing symptoms.

According to Public Health Department, around 400,000 people are affected by MS in United States alone, and 2.5 million people are affected worldwide. More often than not, symptoms usually appear between ages of 20 to 40. Unfortunately, there is no known cure for this condition. However, there are several therapies which help in reducing its severity.

The symptoms of MS in women, as well as men tend to vary from one person to another, depending on the location where the damage occurs. Moreover, the symptoms can also vary over a period of time for an individual who has been diagnosed with this condition. The warning signs of MS can be categorized into three types: primary, secondary, and tertiary.

When the myelin starts deteriorating, the primary or early symptoms appear for the first time. The symptoms appear due to the impairment of the transmission of nerve signals to the muscles. The complications that arise due to the primary symptoms are referred to as secondary symptoms.

Psychological and social complications that are a trickle-down effect of MS on the patient's life are referred to as tertiary symptoms. Depression is an example of tertiary symptom of multiple sclerosis.

The primary symptoms of MS include:
➠ Fatigue
➠ Numbness or tingling
➠ Vision problems
➠ Bladder problems
➠ Bowel problems
➠ Cognitive impairment

➠ Difficulty in walking
➠ Muscle stiffness and spasms
➠ Dizziness
➠ Depression
➠ Pain
➠ Emotional problems
➠ Sexual problems

Some of the symptoms that are less common in patients include:
➠ Problems related to the speech
➠ Breathing problems
➠ Tremors
➠ Headaches
➠ Difficulty in swallowing
➠ Seizures
➠ Hearing loss
➠ Itching

As the disease progresses, secondary symptoms like loss of muscle tone or bladder incontinence might appear. Mood changes can occur due to the distressing nature of the symptoms and the effect these have on the life of the patient. In the later stages, the patient might experience various symptoms.

➠ Mood changes such as depression or euphoria
➠ Difficulty concentrating
➠ Inability to multitask effectively
➠ Difficulty making decisions
➠ Difficulty planning in professional or private life

It must be noted that all the aforementioned symptoms are not likely to be experienced by all the patients. In fact, no two patients are likely to experience the same symptoms. MS symptoms in women and men will depend on the location of the damage. The periods of time when the symptoms worsen are referred to as relapses.

In most cases, the attacks are separated by periods of remission, when the symptoms might subside completely or partially. However, there could be cases where the disease might continue to worsen without periods of remission.

➠ Loss of balance
➠ Tingling or numbness in any part of the body
➠ Muscle spasms
➠ Stiffness and spasms that worsen with sudden movements or position changes

➠ Difficulty moving the arms or legs
➠ Difficulty walking
➠ Problems with coordination
➠ Tremor in one or both arms or legs
➠ Weakness in one or both arms or legs

➠ Double vision
➠ Blurred vision
➠ Difficulty while tracking or following an object with one or both the eyes
➠ Uncontrollable or involuntary rapid eye movements
➠ Optic neuritis (pain in the eye and rapid loss of vision due to inflammation of the optic nerve)
➠ Loss of vision (usually affects one eye at a time)

➠ Constipation
➠ Diarrhea
➠ Loss of bowel control
➠ Difficulty urinating
➠ Frequent need to urinate
➠ Strong urge to urinate
➠ Urinary incontinence

➠ Numbness
➠ Tingling
➠ Pain
➠ Facial pain
➠ Painful muscle spasms
➠ A burning, tingling, or crawling sensation in the arms and legs

➠ Decreased attention span
➠ Memory loss
➠ Difficulty reasoning and solving problems
➠ Poor judgment
➠ Depression or feelings of sadness
➠ Dizziness
➠ Balance problems
➠ Hearing loss

➠ Slurred speech
➠ Difficulty chewing
➠ Dysphagia (difficulty swallowing)

As the disease progresses, the patients are likely to experience fatigue. They might feel extremely tired even after getting restful sleep at night. It might get exacerbated as the day progresses, especially when it is hot and humid.

Some women might experience sexual problems such as decreased sexual drive, impaired sensation, diminished orgasmic response, etc. The damage to the myelin sheath makes the nerves susceptible to damage, which in turn has an adverse effect on the process of coordinating the inputs to the brain.

Currently, there is no cure for multiple sclerosis, but the medical community has been trying to find the cure or ways to manage the symptoms of MS. As of now, there are 10 FDA-approved disease-modifying drugs for MS, but these drugs cannot cure MS.

Certain drugs are recommended, but can only reduce number and severity of attacks and slow down the progression of this disease. The treatment options for MS include drug therapy, physical therapy, occupational therapy, diet management, the use of mechanical aids or adaptive equipment, and counseling.

Disclaimer: The information provided in this story is solely for educating the reader. It is not intended to be a substitute for the advice of a medical expert.