What You Need to Know About Multiple Sclerosis | Men's Health News

Tired all the time? Blurry vision? You could have MS. (Or you could be hungover.)

Earlier this week, doctors diagnosed 26-year-old Jack Osbourne?one-time reality-TV star and son of Ozzy and Sharon?with multiple sclerosis. You might have been shocked to learn that someone Osbourne?s age can have the rare disease, but it?s not as surprising as you think.

While multiple sclerosis, a neurological degenerative disease, affects just 400,000 people nationwide,?you?re most likely to be diagnosed with MS between the ages of 20 and 30, according to Timothy Coetzee, Ph.D., an immunologist and Chief Research Officer for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society (NMSS). (Just because you?re in your 20s doesn?t mean your health is solid. Learn The Other Secret Disease That Strikes Young Men.)

What exactly is MS? It?s a disease that affects your central nervous system?that?s your brain, spinal cord, and optic nerves, Coetzee explains. In those who have MS, the body?s immune system mistakenly attacks the fatty substance that surrounds and protects the nerve fibers that comprise the central nervous system. Damage to those nerves can lead to a variety of symptoms, ranging from slight numbness in the limbs to paralysis or blindness, Coetzee says. It?s frightening because it affects every sufferer in different ways.

Even more frightening: Doctors still aren?t sure what causes MS. There?s some evidence it may be related to vitamin D deficiency; those who live in sunnier places near the equator are less likely to develop the disease than those in colder, more northern climes, Coetzee says. It also seems to be genetic: The odds of developing the disease jump to one in 40 among those who have a close relative with MS.

Should you be worried? Here?s what you need to know about the disease, and what to do if you think you show symptoms. (To learn the real stealth killers you should fret over, read Your Biggest Health Worries, Solved.)

What are the symptoms? The disease is unpredictable, and shows up differently in different people, Coetzee explains. However, blurry or temporary loss of vision, extreme fatigue or periods of numbness in your limbs, and difficulty walking are all warning signs, he says.

Is it preventable? Unfortunately, there are no known ways to prevent MS, Coetzee says.

Is there a cure? Not yet, but early detection can play a big role in mitigating the symptoms and the frequency of attacks, Coetzee says. There are currently eight Food and Drug Administration-approved therapies that can help lessen the severity of the disease and improve a sufferer?s quality of life. If you?ve experienced any symptoms of the disease, Coetzee recommends seeing a neurologist familiar with MS as soon as possible. Find a specialist in your area through the American Academy of Neurology (aan.com).

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