CLARION, Pa. (EYT) — There will be a representative from the national MS society at the MS support group meeting on Tuesday, September 24, at the Presbyterian Church.

The meeting begins at 6:00 p.m.

The Presbyterian Church is located at 700 Wood Street, Clarion.

About MS (Multiple Sclerosis)

(Courtesy: The Medical Minute, Penn State Hershey)

The immune system of someone with MS has lost its sense of self.

Cells that protect the body from disease can’t detect what is dangerous and what isn’t, so they attack the brain, optic nerve, and spinal cord.

Scientists still don’t know what causes MS, but they believe the disease is triggered by an unidentified environmental factor in a person who is genetically predisposed to respond.

The progress and severity of MS and what symptoms it may cause in any one person cannot be predicted. Common ones include numbness or tingling in the face, body or arms and legs; pain; fatigue; walking difficulties; muscle spasms; general weakness; vision problems; and dizziness or vertigo.

Most people with MS find out that they have it between the ages of 20 and 50. At least twice as many women as men are diagnosed.

A combination of methods can be used to diagnose MS. These include a careful study of the patient’s medical history, a neurologic exam, and various tests, including MRI, evoked potentials and spinal fluid analysis.

Because everyone is different, there is no standard way to choose a drug to treat MS. Finding the right medication for a patient with MS depends on how far along the disease is, what the patient’s tolerance to the risk of the drug is, the cost of the drug, and how closely the patient needs to be monitored on the drug.

Identifying and creating lifestyle habits, such as staying physically fit, reducing stress, and not smoking will help a patient’s quality of life.