Demyeliantive Diseases, Term Paper Example

Human Physiology Project

The study of how the human body functions is called human physiology, which controls how the human body’s systems work. This branch of science of the human body is rooted in both macroscopic and molecular levels of science. All of the body systems function in connection with either other, even though they work interdependently. This concept is known as homeostasis, which includes the body’s systems being maintained through proper balance (Assefa & Tsige, 2003).

Homeostasis is evident in a body that is balanced, stable, and in equilibrium with all of its functions and processes. This includes regulating the body’s exposure to a toxic internal environment, which can hamper the effectiveness of the well-being of the body. The body’s internal environment (which includes waste removal, mineral and ions, oxygen, water, glucose, etc.) must be constantly in a state of well-being so that the cells can survive. In other words, the body must be in a homeostatic state to thrive and survive (Assefa & Tsige, 2003). Therefore, without homeostasis, the human body is subject to diseases. One such disease is multiple sclerosis.

Multiple Sclerosis

As suggested, when the human body is deprived of a homeostatic internal environment, it results in diseases such as multiple sclerosis (MS) and others. However, for the purpose of this paper, we will explore multiple sclerosis, how it is distributed, how severe it is, and how much it impacts the public. First, we will explore what is multiple sclerosis, and how the body continues to function. What is MS? MS is a disease of the human central nervous system that negatively affects the spinal cord and brain. It is an inflammatory disease that damages the human nervous system (Weiner, 2009).

Distribution and Severity of the Disease

According to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, the prevalence of MS includes 2.3 million people globally. Most MS cases are diagnosed between 20 and 50 years of age (NMSS, n.d.). Additionally, the disease occurs most often in Caucasians who are European descendants, as compared to other races. In addition, MS is more common in women compared to men, according to research. Research studies also show that the average American has a 1 in 750 chance of developing the disease. This is a growing public health concern, as more cases of MS are being diagnosed than in the past (NMSS, n.d.).

Pathophysiology

The pathology of MS is noted by lesions, known as inflammatory demyelination plaque in the central nervous system, which is a pathological hallmark of the disease (Wu & Alvarez, 2011). This MS plaque follows a path that includes various phases; however, the acute phase is the most significant, in which the plaque is active and destroys myelin in the brain (the fatty substance in the brain that protects the brain’s nerve fibers as well as the spinal cord) (Mayo Clinic, 2015).

In the next phase, the myelin debris is degraded by macrophages, which contain myelin fragments, proteins and lipids. This part of the MS pathophysiology evolution takes several weeks. Over time inactive plaque replaces active plaque. This pattern is mostly variable, as the inflammatory reaction gets better but reappears in another location of the body (Lublin, Reingold, & Cohen, 2014).

The pathophysiology of MS is noted by neurologic deficits, which is caused by the loss of myelin and axons in the brain. Consequently, the lack of insulation of the axons causes impulses, which disperse to adjacent demyelinated axons. The causes evoked response within the central nervous system. This is what causes disability in people with MS, particularly as it relates to the acute inflammatory phase of MS (Agamanolis, 2015).

The course of the disease is also characterized by it relapsing and remitting, with the patient experiencing periods of new symptom development or relapses over days or weeks that partially or completely improve. With this, approximately 60% to 70% of people that experience the alternating relapsing and remitting of MS will eventually experience steadily progressive symptoms.

Signs and Symptoms of MS

Different people have different signs and symptoms of this disease because it is related to how much nerve damage has occurred prior to presentation of the disease and official diagnosis. Some people have such severe symptoms that they are no longer able to walk by themselves or at all. Other people may go through long remissions without developing any new symptoms. However, hallmark symptoms of the disease include numbness or weakness in the limbs or trunk, particularly on just one side of the body; loss of vision (partial or complete), particularly in one eye at a time, with eye movement pain; double vision; pain or tingling sensation in the body; neck movement-caused electric shock sensations, tremor; lack of coordination; unsteady gait; slurred speech; dizziness; fatigue, and bowel or bladder function problems (Mayo Clinic, 2015).

Causes of MS

Unfortunately, the exact cause of multiple sclerosis is not known; however, it is considered an autoimmune disease in which the immune system malfunctions and destroys myelin in the brain. To understand what myelin is, one can compare it to the insulated coating on electrical wires. When this myelin is damaged it exposes nerve fibers; this in turn causes messages traveling along the nerve to be slowed, blocked, or damaged. Additionally, it is unclear why some people get MS and not others; however, it could be a combination of both environmental factors and genetics why people develop the disease (Mayo Clinic, 2015).

According to the Kidd (2001), research shows that MS can be initiated by environmental factors that are non-genetic. These factors are thought to be exposed to children early on as infectious agents of some sort, particularly viruses. This is why it is important to treat chronic viruses and other infections aggressively with MS patients, and exercise should be maintained to help muscle tone and balance. Early intervention with such integrative modalities can potentially help patients manage the disease (Kidd, 2001).

Risk Factors of MS

There are several significant factors that could increase the likelihood that a person could develop MS. These risk factors for developing MS include age, gender, family history, infections, race, climate, autoimmune response, and smoking (Mayo Clinic, 2015).

Being between the ages of 15 and 60 is a risk factor closely associated with MS. This is a very broad factor but research shows it to be true. Gender is another factor, with women being twice as likely as men to develop the disease. Family history counts as a risk factor if a parent or sibling has the disease, a person is at greater risk of developing it as well. Of significant note, viral infections may be linked to the development of MS, particularly the virus that causes mononucleosis or Epstein-Barr disease. Race is another significant factor in the risk of developing MS, with Caucasian people being most at risk as compared to Asians, African Americans and Native Americans. Additionally, the climate in which one resides is another risk factor, with MS being more common in temperate climates. Although MS is considered an autoimmune disease, other autoimmune diseases could precipitate it, such as type 1 diabetes, inflammatory bowel disease, or thyroid disease. Furthermore, smokers as opposed to non-smokers are more likely to develop relapsing–remitting MS (Mayo Clinic, 2015).

Complications of the MS

MS is a complex disease that causes complex symptoms and complications that can include leg paralysis, muscle spasms, muscle weakness, bladder and bowel problems, sexual dysfunction, mental changes, epilepsy, and depression (Mayo Clinic, 2015). This is no doubt a source of extra stress for those who have developed MS and could cause them to miss school or work or otherwise have social problems as well.

The MS Diagnosis

There are certain criteria that must be met with an MS diagnosis. Doctors run a battery of tests to rule out other conditions and diseases before confirming an MS diagnosis. Therefore, before a doctor can confirm MS, he or she must (1) look for evidence that damage has occurred to at least two areas of a patient’s central nervous system; (2) look for evidence that the damage to the two areas occurred a minimum of a month apart from each other, and (3) rule out anything else in the process. In addition, an MRI, visual evoked potentials test, and analysis of cerebrospinal fluid is used to help with obtaining a definitive diagnosis of the disease (NMSS, n.d.). More specifically, the doctor performs a series of test that evaluate the patient’s bodily functions as they relate to mental, emotional and language factors. The patient is also evaluated for coordination, movement, balance, and vision. The patient’s other four senses are tested as well. The medical history is also considered as well as results of blood tests to rule out any other conditions that could possibly mimic MS symptoms, such as HIV, Lyme disease, collagen-vascular diseases, or certain other rare genetic disorders (Mayo Clinic, 2015) (NMSS, n.d.).

Treatment of MS

There is currently no cure for MS; however, there are treatment modalities that are used to manage the disease as best as possible. Treatment includes helping a patient recovery as quickly as possible from attacks of the disease. This helps to slow the disease progression and keep it managed by managing the symptoms. Medicinal treatments include corticosteroids and disease-modifying drug therapies. If the MS is aggressively treated with these therapies early, it can possibly lower relapse rates and slow disease progression. However, many of these therapies are risky themselves (Mayo Clinic, 2015).

Other treatment options include plasmapheresis (which is a plasma exchange procedure, physical therapy, and alternative medicine such as meditation, yoga, exercise, massage, acupuncture, relaxation, and healthy diets. It is interesting to note that the American Academy of Neurology recommends the use of medicinal oral cannabis extract to help with muscle spasms and pain (Mayo Clinic, 2015).

Prognosis and Latest Developments

As it relates to a prognosis for this disease, it is relatively good because it is rarely fatal and life expectancy is only a few months shorter than normal. However, people are concerned by the quality of life when they think of the prognosis. Latest developments with treating the disease over 15 years includes 60% of patients being able to walk without assistance and many, with the latest advances, will have little disability at all. Additionally, about a third of MS patients go through life normally without a high level of disability and only suffer transient episodes of symptoms (Rolak, 2003)

Conclusion

The human body can go through many challenging conditions and diseases, and MS is one of the most popular of these. However, as seen in this paper, it is a disease that can be satisfactorily managed, if caught early and treatment and therapy is begun as soon as possible. It is important, however, for patients to comply with prescribed protocol and medicinal courses to help keep the body in a homeostatic state as much as possible, as described above.

This paper has explored the disease, multiple sclerosis and how it is distributed. Additionally, the severity and seriousness of the disease has been highlighted and explained. It attests to how the body functions with MS and what people can do to get it under control. Future studies could focus on what can be done to hopefully find a cure for this disease. In addition, it is significant to place more emphasis on also finding possible prevention modalities to incorporate into disease awareness and training, as outside factors that may be causing this disease can possibly be mitigated to lessen the prevalence of the disease of at least lessen the severity of it when someone does develop it. This is something that should be the focus of future research on this terrible disease.

References

Agamanolis, D. P. (2015, September). Demyeliantive Diseases. Retrieved from Neuropathology: http://neuropathology-web.org/chapter6/chapter6aMs.html

Assefa, N., & Tsige, Y. (2003). Human Anatomy and Physiology. Ethiopia Public Health Training Initiative, The Carter Center, the Ethiopia Ministry of Health, and the Ethiopia Ministry of Education .

Kidd, P. M. (2001). Multiple Sclerosis, An Autoimmune Inflammatory Disease: Prospects for its Integrative Management. Alternative Medicine Review, 6(6), 540-566.

Lublin, F. D., Reingold, S. C., & Cohen, J. A. (2014, May 28). Defining the clinical course of multiple sclerosis: The 2013 revisions. Journal of American Academy of Neurology, 1-10.

Mayo Clinic. (2015, October 1). Multiple Sclerosis. Retrieved from Mayo Clinic: http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/multiple-sclerosis/symptoms-causes/dxc-20131884

NMSS. (n.d.). Who Gets MS? Retrieved from National Multiple Sclerosis Society: http://www.nationalmssociety.org/What-is-MS/Who-Gets-MS

Rolak, L. A. (2003, January). Multiple Sclerosis: It’s Not The Disease You Thought It Was. Clin Med Res, 1(1), 57-60.

Weiner, H. L. (2009). The Challenge of Multiple Sclerosis: How Do We Cure a Chronic Heterogeneous Disease? Neurological Progress, 239-248.

Wu, G. F., & Alvarez, E. (2011, May). The immuno-pathophysiology of multiple sclerosis. Neurolic Clinics, 29(2), 257-278.