A New Jersey woman says her early signs of multiple sclerosis (MS) were initially written off by doctors – and hopes her story can help others catch the devastating disease sooner.
Angelina Cubero (27) from Jersey City was diagnosed with the disease three years ago at the age of 24 – but it has come a long way. As with many MS patients, it took months of uncertainty, trips to the ER and changes of doctor before it closed.
Her symptoms, such as brain fog, frequent migraines and constant leg pain and numbness, were dismissed as anxiety for many years. Now she wants other sufferers to be screened for MS.
In autoimmune disease, the immune system mistakenly attacks the protective lining of the brain and spine, slowly shutting down the body’s communication systems.
“I’d go to the doctor, I’d go to the ER, I’d go to the ER, I’d go to my family doctor, I’d go to a specialist, another specialist, and I didn’t really get any answers not,” Ms. Cubero told Good Morning America.
Angelina Cubero (pictured), 27, was diagnosed with MS at the age of 24 after an MRI found lesions and other damage to her brain and spine
Ms Cubero said she had previously told doctors she was suffering from brain fog, numb and tingling legs and migraines, but her symptoms were written off by doctors
“They said: ‘You look good. you don’t look sick All your tests looked normal to me’… The only reason they told me was fear.”
Eventually, an MRI scan she received in 2020 discovered multiple lesions and plaques in her brain, suggesting she had MS.
She said she had never heard of the disease until she found out she had it.
“I had to do my own research to find out what MS was, and it was scary,” she said.
According to the National MS Society, an estimated 1 million Americans have MS. The disease is also responsible for approximately 20,000 annual deaths in the United States.
It develops when the immune system begins to attack the body’s myelin – a protective covering around important parts of the central nervous system, such as the brain and spine.
Over time, the nervous system begins to break down. This causes a person to slowly lose motor function throughout the body.
Many patients become partially or completely paralyzed after years of fighting the disease.
Other symptoms include seizures, vision problems including blindness, mental health problems and cognitive decline.
Although it may seem young, symptoms usually begin between a person’s 20s and 40s. It may take time for doctors to diagnose it.
Although Ms. Cubero’s symptoms were initially written off by doctors, they can all serve as early signs that a person is about to suffer from this devastating disease.
But each of these symptoms is also caused by a variety of other factors, and doctors will caution against assuming the worst for general conditions.
Here are the three warning signs, according to Ms. Cubero:
MS is an autoimmune disease that occurs when the body’s defenses against outside invaders begin to attack myelin, the coating on the brain, spine and nerves that protects it from damage
brain fog
Brain fog, characterized by sudden attacks of confusion, forgetfulness, difficulty concentrating and a lack of mental acuity, is a common symptom of MS.
Also referred to as “gear fog” by MS patients, the symptom can cause people to lose hours of their time completing simple tasks.
They may also have trouble remembering simple details about things they have just done, such as B. what they had for lunch.
READ MORE: I am a leading longevity scientist. Therefore, someone reading this now could live to be 150 years old
Dr. Steven Cohen shares his tips for living longer, healthier lives.
It occurs as a result of damage to the myelin, which leaves the brain and other parts of the nervous system vulnerable.
Over time, infections, injuries and diseases damage the brain.
When it is damaged, lesions – or sores – appear in the brain. Finding this damage on an MRI scan is usually the first signal a doctor has that someone has MS.
Numbness and tingling in the legs
Tingling and other sensations in the legs are among the most well-known early symptoms of MS.
When the myelin that surrounds the body’s nerves begins to slowly wear away, a person’s nerves become damaged.
These nerves are responsible for transmitting information from the brain to the rest of the body.
If they are damaged, they may not be able to send the information correctly. This leads to tingling, or numbness – which occurs when a nerve is irritated or sends extra signals.
Although this can sometimes happen to some people, e.g. B. after sitting on their leg for a long time, doctors warn that anyone who experiences the sensations regularly should see a doctor.
migraine
Frequent migraines are a possible symptom of MS. While more than one in ten Americans suffer from headaches, WebMD warns that MS sufferers are twice as likely to be affected as their peers.
Doctors have not determined why people with MS have these headaches. Previous studies have failed to establish a link between migraines and MS.
However, some speculate that the disease affects the body’s hormone regulation.
When the disease “flares up” – as doctors call it, when new disease symptoms appear or old ones worsen – migraines also become more common.
Source link
Crystal Leahy is an author and health journalist who writes for The Fashion Vibes. With a background in health and wellness, Crystal has a passion for helping people live their best lives through healthy habits and lifestyles.
