March Is National MS Education & Awareness Month

Main Category: Multiple Sclerosis
Article Date: 19 Feb 2008 - 1:00 PDT

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If you or someone you know has multiple sclerosis (MS), help is just a phone call away.

The month of March is National MS Education & Awareness Month. This national campaign, spearheaded by the Multiple Sclerosis Foundation (MSF), in cooperation with the MS Coalition and other organizations, will promote an understanding of the disease and will provide education, empowerment, and assistance to those living with it. Upon request, educational literature is available for MS patients, family members, healthcare providers, the media, and all others who wish to broaden their understanding of this chronic, progressive neurological disease.

MS is usually diagnosed between the ages of 20 and 50, with a risk in the general population of approximately 1/750. Two hundred people are diagnosed with MS every week and more than 2.5 million people are living with this disease worldwide. Like other autoimmune diseases, MS is more common in women than men. The most common symptoms associated with MS include visual disturbances, balance and walking difficulties, debilitating fatigue, weakness, numbness, and bladder dysfunction. While there is currently no cure for MS, there is a great deal a person can do to manage the disease and maintain their quality of life. The best place to start is with reliable information about MS.

Further information about MS and National MS Education & Awareness Month can be found on the MSF website at http://www.msfocus.org or by calling 1-888-MSFOCUS (673-6287).

The Multiple Sclerosis Foundation is a national, non-profit organization dedicated to improving quality of life for individuals with MS through educational programs and support services.

Multiple Sclerosis Foundation

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