March is Multiple Sclerosis Education & Awareness Month and Hammer Medical wants all of our customers and all Iowa residents to be aware of this mysterious disease.
What is it? Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a chronic neurological disorder that affects the central nervous system (the brain and spinal cord).
MS damages nerves by making the body’s immune system attack the protective covering on the nerve cells.
Things you may not know about MS:
- MS can strike both men and women, but is more common in women
- MS appears more frequently in Caucasians than in Hispanics or African Americans
- MS is relatively rare among Asians and certain other ethnic groups
- MS is most commonly diagnosed in individuals between the ages of 20 and 50
- 350,000 to 500,000 people in the U.S. have been diagnosed with MS
- Two hundred people are diagnosed with MS every week
- Over 2.5 million people are living with the disease worldwide
Do you know the symptoms of MS? Common symptoms of MS include fatigue, weakness, spasticity, balance problems, bladder and bowel problems, numbness, vision loss, tremors and depression. Many of these symptoms are shared with other diseases and disorders as well, so it’s best to be tested.
How fast will MS progress? Even if you are diagnosed with MS, there is no certain timeline for the progression of the disease. The disease can progress quickly or slowly and even have times of remission. That’s why having the right medical care and the right medical equipment is so important. Please visit the www.nationalmssociety.org for more information on the disease and see your physician.
Hammer Medical carries canes, clutches and walkers to assist with balance and strength issues and manual and power wheelchairs for people with more mobility needs. We carry CPAP and BiPAP units to treat sleep apnea. See our online catalog for a full list of our products or if you’re in the vicinity of any of the Hammer Medical locations, stop in and see us today with more questions about beneficial equipment and supplies.
Tags: MS, MS Education & Awareness Month, multiple sclerosis, sleep apnea