MS Awareness Month
March was MS Awareness Month. The National MS Society recently reveled that the number of people in the U.S. living with MS has risen to 1 million people. It was previously estimated that around 400,000 people in the U.S. were living with MS. That is twice as many people now. The number has doubled. The National MS Society has also reveled that MS is the most common neurological disease leading to disability among young adults. At a recent MS event I attended, a prominent neurologist stated that MS effects 1 in 1000 people.
In recent pop culture news, both actress Selma Blair and musician Art Alexakis reveled that they too have MS. I don't wish this disease on anyone, but I'm so glad that there are people in the world brave enough to share their story. Whether you're famous or not, sharing personal details about oneself can be scary. You can feel isolated, scared of what people may say or think, worry about other people abandoning you, and feel completely utterly alone. I love when someone is brave enough to share his or her story. It makes oneself not feel alone, like there is someone to relate to. It's inspiring and uplifting.
So why the increase in number of people diagnosed? Could it be doctors and technology are getting better at diagnosing MS? Could it be because people have better insurance and are going to the doctors more? Does gender, age, geography, or genetics play a role in newly diagnosed individuals? Currently there is no biomarker or blood test to see if someone has MS or to see how severe their MS is. Come on scientists! Get it together!
Visit the National MS Society for more info at
www.nationalmssociety.org
In recent pop culture news, both actress Selma Blair and musician Art Alexakis reveled that they too have MS. I don't wish this disease on anyone, but I'm so glad that there are people in the world brave enough to share their story. Whether you're famous or not, sharing personal details about oneself can be scary. You can feel isolated, scared of what people may say or think, worry about other people abandoning you, and feel completely utterly alone. I love when someone is brave enough to share his or her story. It makes oneself not feel alone, like there is someone to relate to. It's inspiring and uplifting.
So why the increase in number of people diagnosed? Could it be doctors and technology are getting better at diagnosing MS? Could it be because people have better insurance and are going to the doctors more? Does gender, age, geography, or genetics play a role in newly diagnosed individuals? Currently there is no biomarker or blood test to see if someone has MS or to see how severe their MS is. Come on scientists! Get it together!
My mom at the MS Society Open House, in front of the Tree of Life
Visit the National MS Society for more info at
www.nationalmssociety.org
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