Abarcans stand with the nearly 2.3 million people worldwide living with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) every day, almost one million of which live right here in the United States. We strongly believe that bringing awareness to MS is necessary for providing the steps toward a better way of managing the condition and improving the patients’ quality of life.
What is Multiple Sclerosis?
Nerves are the body’s best friend. We rely on them to send vital messages between the brain and the rest of the body as tiny electrical signals, but in a person with MS, those messages don’t get where they need to go.
According to the National MS Society, MS is an autoimmune disease that damages the protective lining of nerves, ‘disrupting the flow of information within the brain, and between the brain and body.’ Symptoms vary from person to person and in many cases, may appear to be invisible, though are often disabling. People with MS may have trouble walking, and may experience numbness or tingling in their hands or feet. They may also have trouble seeing and can experience memory loss.
What causes MS?
The cause of the condition is still unknown, though scientists believe that a combination of environmental and genetic factors contribute to the risk of developing MS. Most people are diagnosed between the ages of 20 and 50, with at least two to three times more women than men being diagnosed with the disease. There is no cure for MS, though there are several medications that can help control the varying symptoms.
World MS Day:
May 30th marks the World Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Day, coordinated by the MS International Federation and its associated members around the globe. The 2020-2022 World MS Day theme is ‘connections’. MS Connections is all about building community connection, self-connection, and connections to quality care. We are challenging social barriers that leave people affected by MS feeling lonely and socially isolated. Together, we advocate for better services, celebrate support networks, and champion self-care. Change the future, find your #MSConnections.
Abarca’s participation in the MS Connections campaign is part of our Better Care Community Program, an initiative aimed at making healthcare awesome, while at the same time, supporting community organizations that make health services more accessible, and also bringing awareness to conditions affecting our communities.
Get involved:
Find out more about World MS Awareness Day, including virtual events happening in your area, the latest news posted from around the world, and tools available to aid in your World MS Awareness Day campaigns. Join Abarca in spreading awareness and advocacy for more research funding so that one day we may live in a world free of MS.
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This blog was written by Suzette Velez, Director Of Clinical Services at Abarca Health.