Currently affecting nearly 1 million individuals in the United States, multiple sclerosis (or MS) is a medical condition in which the immune system begins to attack the coverings of nerves. Nerve cells are covered by myelin sheaths, fatty coverings that protect these cells and aid in electrical pulse transmission. MS attacks and damages these coverings, eventually resulting in the death of nerve cells.
Nerve cells are important to the human body simply because they provide the sensations of the body’s major senses. Without nerve cells, we would not feel the burning sensation of our hand on a stove. This disease can be difficult to live with, but if caught early, treatment can be greatly beneficial. Here are a few symptoms to look out for if you suspect that you may have developed MS:

1. Vision problems
A common symptom of multiple sclerosis is optic neuritis, the inflammation of optic nerves. This condition typically occurs in one eye and causes movement-related pain or discomfort, loss of vision, dimness, or blurred vision. Some individuals might experience optic neuritis as one of their first symptoms of multiple sclerosis. After the onset of this symptom, you can expect your normal vision to return within two to six months.

2. Tingling, pain, spasms, and numbness
A lack of feeling, or perhaps too much feeling, is directly correlated to nerve damage within your extremities. If you have ever experienced a “pins and needles” sensation in any part of your body, you may already be familiar with this symptom. Nerve damage can cause your body to lose sensation in your fingers, toes, arms, and legs. This symptom usually occurs on one side of the body and goes away on its own. The most common type of spasm suffered by individuals with MS is the “eye twitch.” In this symptom, the eyes may begin to repeat a small and rapid movement. In some cases, an individual may lose control of moving their eyes without the twitching. This condition, called nystagmus, can interfere with your daily activities if left untreated. While the other symptoms of MS tend to go away on their own, it may be necessary to visit an ophthalmologist to correct your vision.

3. Bladder issues
Bladder dysfunction occurs in 80% of individuals living with MS. This occurs because the transmission of nerve signals are delayed on their way to the body’s urinary system. As the myelin sheath of our nerves are attacked, the rate at which electrical signals travel throughout body becomes increasingly slow and you might find that you are too late to run to the bathroom.

While there is no single reason for why a person may develop multiple sclerosis, it has been discovered that there are a variety of risk factors for this condition. A person becomes more likely to develop MS if he/she:

• Resides in a location far from the equator
• Smokes
• Is obese
• Has a Vitamin D deficiency

Multiple sclerosis is not genetic and therefore, there is a very low likelihood of developing the disease, even if it is in your family’s history. If you are still worried about your probability of developing the condition, look out for the sympto