Multiple sclerosis cases on the rise

New research suggests the number of people living with the condition in the UK increased by around 2.4 per cent a year between 1990 and 2010, to 127,000.

MS is thought to be an autoimmune condition, as the body is attacking itself when myelin is destroyed. But experts are still no clearer on what causes the disabling disease.

Sue Farrington, director for education and communication at the Multiple Sclerosis Society says: “It would be wonderful if we could identify one thing that caused MS, but it’s very complex.

“We think there’s some sort of link to genes, but it’s probably a combination of genes and other things, as not everyone with the genes will develop MS.

“There are a number of environmental factors too. MS is more common the further away you live from the Equator, and there’s growing research that suggests a lack of vitamin D could be a factor in causing it.”

Research is also looking into the role of viruses in triggering the disease, but no single virus has been identified as a definite contributor. However, there’s growing evidence that the Epstein Barr virus, which is commonly caught in childhood, may act as a trigger.

A number of studies have also found smoking appears to increase some people’s risk of developing MS, although it’s unclear why. Local writer Alan Burridge, 62, from Upton in Poole was diagnosed with MS earlier this year.

The diagnosis was no surprise to Alan as he has a local friend with the same condition and the symptoms were familiar.

Alan and his friend had both been long-term smokers and had suffered excruciating migraines during the withdrawal from stopping. He said: “No doubt the medical profession will disagree, but after smoking for almost 40 years and then stopping, the body must kick at suddenly missing those chemicals and poisons which it has been used to being inhaled on a daily basis.”

Alan is convinced this is an anomaly which the medical profession has not had presented to it before.

“I might be right off the mark,” he said, “but I think there is room for investigation, and I wondered if there are any ex-smokers out there who have multiple sclerosis and also suffered those terrible migraines, only to later be inflicted with MS.”

The search goes on for a cause and a cure, although in the meantime, treatments for relapsing remitting MS, which often eventually develops into another type of the disease, secondary progressive MS, have greatly improved.

For more visit www.mssociety.org.uk, and for more on MS Therapy Centres, visit msntc.org.uk

Blogging to lend support to others

MIKAELA Lodge, 27, from Bournemouth who was diagnosed with MS last year, has started her own blog aimed at people of a similar age.

“Being told I had MS was rather confusing as I thought it only affected older people. I was also worried that it would take over my life and I would end up in a wheelchair and have to rely on others for the rest of my life.

“Much of the information available on the internet can be very negative and frightening.

“I wanted to find something written by someone of a similar age, going through the same stuff, with the same worries, but most importantly with a positive attitude. I couldn’t find anything so I decided to start a blog myself.”

Mikaela is also planning to raise funds for the MS Trust and has plans to organise a charity bake off and take part in a sponsored 10k run next year.

“It’s a diary of events written for others in the same position so I hope I can try to put their mind at ease. I’m the sort of person who wants to get on with life – I don’t want MS to define me.”

Visit miss-sweet.co.uk/290030333