Reduced vision, fatigue and memory impairment may indicate the development of a dangerous neurological disease multiple sclerosis, often leading to disability. Yulia Shishkina, a neurologist at the SM-Clinic, told Izvestia about this on Thursday, June 9.
As the specialist explained, this ailment is one of the chronic progressive diseases of the nervous system, in which the myelin sheath of the nerves is destroyed, followed by the formation of sclerotic plaques in the affected areas. Worldwide, there are about two million patients with multiple sclerosis, and in Russia there are about 150 thousand patients.
Early symptoms include: numbness and weakness in the limbs, decreased vision and double vision, unsteadiness when walking and dizziness, increased muscle tone and changes in reflexes, slow speech, increased fatigue, emotional disorders (euphoria, depression), cognitive impairment ( loss of memory and attention).
Shishkina also listed risk factors for multiple sclerosis. In particular, genetic predisposition, smoking, chronic poisoning with toxic substances, prolonged exposure to radiation, severe stress factors, injuries of the brain and spinal cord, high levels of salt in food, and unfavorable ecology can increase the likelihood of the disease.
In addition, geographic latitude also matters: closer to the server, the frequency of cases is much higher than in the south. This is due to a decrease in vitamin D levels and solar activity, which differs in different regions. Among the risk factors, the doctor also attributed the transferred retroviruses, Epstein-Barr virus, chicken pox, herpes viruses, mononucleosis, as well as streptococcal and staphylococcal infections.
“There is an opinion that vaccination with live vaccines can provoke the development or exacerbation of MS. However, there are other types of vaccines, so only a doctor should determine the indications and contraindications for their administration, ”continued Shishkina.
Also at risk are young women, mostly Caucasians. In addition, some experts believe that the period after pregnancy can also provoke the development of the disease or exacerbation, but scientific data on this matter are rather contradictory.
To prevent the development of dangerous complications, it is necessary to regularly undergo examinations for the diagnosis of multiple sclerosis. In particular, it is important to take a general blood test, undergo neurological and ophthalmological examinations, and do an MRI of the brain and spine.
In addition, you should control the level of vitamin D in the body, limit smoking and alcohol consumption, drink enough fluids and exercise regularly, Shishkina added.
On June 3, Oksana Gizinger, an expert doctor at the Hemotest laboratory, told Izvestia about the danger of thyroid diseases, which are very common in Russia. As the specialist clarified, in Russia almost 40% of the population suffers from thyroid diseases. Such pathologies lead to metabolic disorders, which is dangerous by serious malfunctions in the body.
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