Multiple Sclerosis
Dietitians and Multiple Sclerosis
Ryan Herndon
Kaplan University
Professor Seeman
June 26, 2012
Multiple Sclerosis (M.S.) is an autoimmune disease that affects the brain and spinal cord
(PubMed Health, 2012). Approximately 250,000 to 350,000 people have been diagnosed with
M.S. in the United States (Schoenstadt, 2006). Every week, 200 new people are diagnosed with
M.S. in our country (National MS Society, n.d.). M.S. can affect each person differently.
Damage to the myelin in the Central Nervous System and nerve fibers disturb the signals sent between the brain and spinal cord to other parts of the body causing the primary symptoms of
Multiple Sclerosis (National MS Society, n.d.)Symptoms can come and go without any warning.
An idea on how to help people suffering from M.S. is to have a dietitian either come to an M.S. housing building or support group, and introduce a healthy, nutritious diet that will help decrease the symptoms of Multiple Sclerosis. There are many diets out there that can help reduce symptoms and weight. Using a dietitian to introduce a healthy diet to those with M.S. can be very beneficial because it can decrease their pain and exacerbations, and improve the quality of their lives.
There are four different types of M.S. that people can have. They are relapsing- remitting (RRMS), secondary progressive (SPMS), primary progressive (PPMS) and progressive-relapsing Multiple Sclerosis (PRMS) (National MS Society, n.d.). RRMS is when patients have relapses followed by periods of recovery (Mayo Clinic, 2012). SPMS occurs when there are relapses and partial recoveries, but the disability progressively gets worse until a steady progression of disability replaces cycles of exacerbations (Mayo Clinic, 2012). PPMS is when the disease progresses slowly and steadily from start with no periods of remissions (Mayo
Clinic, 2012). Finally, PRMS is a rare type of M.S. where people experience both steadily
worsening
Ryan Herndon
Kaplan University
Professor Seeman
June 26, 2012
Multiple Sclerosis (M.S.) is an autoimmune disease that affects the brain and spinal cord
(PubMed Health, 2012). Approximately 250,000 to 350,000 people have been diagnosed with
M.S. in the United States (Schoenstadt, 2006). Every week, 200 new people are diagnosed with
M.S. in our country (National MS Society, n.d.). M.S. can affect each person differently.
Damage to the myelin in the Central Nervous System and nerve fibers disturb the signals sent between the brain and spinal cord to other parts of the body causing the primary symptoms of
Multiple Sclerosis (National MS Society, n.d.)Symptoms can come and go without any warning.
An idea on how to help people suffering from M.S. is to have a dietitian either come to an M.S. housing building or support group, and introduce a healthy, nutritious diet that will help decrease the symptoms of Multiple Sclerosis. There are many diets out there that can help reduce symptoms and weight. Using a dietitian to introduce a healthy diet to those with M.S. can be very beneficial because it can decrease their pain and exacerbations, and improve the quality of their lives.
There are four different types of M.S. that people can have. They are relapsing- remitting (RRMS), secondary progressive (SPMS), primary progressive (PPMS) and progressive-relapsing Multiple Sclerosis (PRMS) (National MS Society, n.d.). RRMS is when patients have relapses followed by periods of recovery (Mayo Clinic, 2012). SPMS occurs when there are relapses and partial recoveries, but the disability progressively gets worse until a steady progression of disability replaces cycles of exacerbations (Mayo Clinic, 2012). PPMS is when the disease progresses slowly and steadily from start with no periods of remissions (Mayo
Clinic, 2012). Finally, PRMS is a rare type of M.S. where people experience both steadily
worsening
References: Gandy, J. Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics. (Feb 2007). 20 (1), 1. Mayo Clinic Multiple Sclerosis Resource Centre. (2012).Diet and Nutrition in MS. Retrieved from http://www.msc.co.uk/index.cfm/fuseaction/show/pageid/398 Multiple Sclerosis Trust PubMed Health. (2012).Multiple Sclerosis. Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001747 Schoenstadt, A Swank MS Foundation. (2009). About the Swank Low-fat For the Treatment of MS. Retrieved from http://www.swankmsdiet.charityfinders.org/About%20The%20Diet Letter to the Editor: