In Dubai, 54 in every 100,000 people suffer from Multiple Sclerosis (MS), said doctors from the Dubai Health Authority (DHA) in light of World MS Day, which is marked on May 25 every year.

The doctors revealed during DHA’s Smart Clinic on Thursday that there is a considerable MS prevalence in the region and so more people should be aware about this disease.

“MS is a long-lasting disease that can affect your brain, spinal cord, and optic nerves, causing neurological and functional disorders,” said Dr Yasmin Kamal, senior specialist of Neurology at the Rashid Hospital.

To raise awareness about MS, the DHA launched a social media campaign where stories of UAE residents with MS were shared using the hashtag #StrongerthanMS.

MS relapses occur when the myelin layer in the central nervous system (brain, spinal cord and optic nerve) inflames. While its causes are unknown, Dr Kamal said the speculated causes include, but are not limited to, autoimmune diseases, excessive immune reaction, previous viral infection, genetic factors and environment factors.

The symptoms of MS include blurry eyesight, problems in balancing and numbness, hence MS affects motor skills and causes muscle pain, fatigue and emotional distress.

Rania Elias, senior physiotherapist at Dubai Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation Center, advised MS patients to take the required medication, avoid extreme hot weather as well as avoid getting the cold and other viral infections, to prevent MS attacks.

She advised avoiding stress, taking care of one’s psychological state and following a healthy is vital. –TradeArabia News Service