MS symptoms such as fatigue and spasticity which can mean that you are more inclined to skip exercising, leading you to become less active over time. Certain medications like steroids which are used to treat MS relapses, can also cause weight gain.
Lack of physical activity.
Some MS symptoms make it hard to move around or put you less in the mood for exercise. You might find yourself adding extra pounds because of things like: Fatigue. Depression.
Living with MS can sometimes make it harder to manage your weight, and both weight loss and weight gain can be a problem.
MS patients are also characterized by other defects in lipid metabolism. A lipidomic analysis of CD4+ lymphocytes from MS patients identified altered phospholipids and elevated cardiolipins, potentially reflecting mitochondrial dysfunction (91).
Clostridium perfringens and epsilon toxin may explain many of these mysteries.” An environmental trigger is required for MS to occur in a genetically susceptible individual, and the abundance of epsilon toxin-producing Clostridium perfringens in people with MS suggests it could be the culprit.
Swollen feet and ankles are common in MS, and are caused by an accumulation of lymphatic fluid (lymphedema). They are considered to be a secondary symptom of the disease, because they most often develop due to a lack of mobility instead of arising as a direct result of demyelination.
Obesity and MS risk
Researchers have identified a handful of genes associated with obesity that are also associated with MS. This means that if you are genetically more likely to become obese, you are also more susceptible to MS.
Research summary. People who have MS sometimes have swollen legs. This leg swelling can occur for a number of reasons, particularly if it has become difficult to walk. In these circumstances, excess water may build up in the tissues and cause the legs to become swollen.
The most commonly proposed primary mechanisms of fatigue in MS involve the immune system or sequelae from central nervous system damage. Specific causes are thought to include proinflammatory cytokines, endocrine influences, axonal loss, and altered patterns of cerebral activation.
Dujmovic Basuroski says she and other UNC neurologists who treat MS patients often recommend the Mediterranean diet. It's largely plant-based and limits saturated fats and sugar while emphasizing anti-inflammatory foods such as fruits, leafy green vegetables and olive oil.
In multiple sclerosis, the protective coating on nerve fibers (myelin) in the central nervous system is damaged. This creates a lesion that, depending on the location in the central nervous system, may cause symptoms such as numbness, pain or tingling in parts of the body.
Balance problems and falls are common in people with multiple sclerosis (MS) but their cause and nature are not well understood. It is known that MS affects many areas of the central nervous system that can impact postural responses to maintain balance, including the cerebellum and the spinal cord.
Fatigue. Feeling fatigued is one of the most common and troublesome symptoms of MS. It's often described as an overwhelming sense of exhaustion that means it can be a struggle to carry out even the simplest activities.
Many people with multiple sclerosis (MS) struggle with intestinal issues. There is evidence of the link between gut health and MS. Bloating is a common result of these issues. It's super annoying and always happens at the worst time, such as when you're out and about or wearing something fitted to an event.
In multiple sclerosis (MS) or other conditions that limit mobility, it most commonly manifests as swollen feet and ankles, and occurs because the lymphatic system does not receive help from the muscle movements that normally enable the lymphatic fluid to flow properly.
Taking vitamin D also may lower the risk of relapse and may decrease new scarring in the nervous system. New scarring can be seen on MRI and are known as radiographic lesions.
MS can have debilitating effects, such as paralysis, blindness, impaired thinking and loss of bladder and bowel control. That's because scar tissue forms around the nerve fibers, preventing them from sending electrical impulses to and from your brain.
Prevalence Factors According to Gender, Location, and Race. The distribution of this disease is not totally random. On average, with relapsing forms of MS, women are three times more likely than men to develop this disorder. With the primary-progressive form, genders are more equally divided.
While facial drooping is often a sign of other disorders such as Bell's palsy, Lyme disease, or even stroke, it may be an early sign of MS. No matter what is causing the facial paralysis, you should get immediate medical help to address the problem.
Numbness of the face, body or extremities (arms and legs) is one of the most common symptoms of MS. It may be the first MS symptom you experienced.
Current or previous smokers with the highest levels of EBV antibodies were 70 percent more likely to develop MS than those with neither risk factor. Study Provides Strongest Evidence Yet for the Role of Epstein-Barr Virus in Triggering Multiple Sclerosis. Ask an MS Expert: The Role of Epstein-Barr Virus in MS.