6 Facts About Multiple Sclerosis

1. MS may have originated in Holland circa the 1400s. It wasn’t until 1868 that MS was described as it’s own disease by Dr. Jean-Martin Charcot.

2. Approximately 42% of people with MS are originally misdiagnosed with something else.

3. Clinical trials are imperative for researchers to learn more about how to treat the disease. Ask your doctor or search the National MS Society website to see if there are any that you or a loved one could be a part of.

4. MS is not inherited. It is true that MS genes pass down through families. But, a person can only inherit the risk for MS, not MS itself. Note: Only 15% of people with MS have a family history of the disease.

5. MS may get better during pregnancy. In order to protect the baby, the body naturally shuts down some of its immune responses.

6. The “MS Hug” is not a hug at all! It is often described as feeling a crushing of the chest/ribs. While common, it often requires medical treatment.