8/10/2021- 10:18 a.m.
Christina Applegate is most known for her role on the hit television show marriage with children.
She revealed a recent multiple sclerosis diagnosis to fans on Monday. According to Hopkins Medicine, MS “occurs when the immune system attacks nerve fibers and myelin sheathing (a fatty substance which surrounds/insulates healthy nerve fibers) in the brain and spinal cord.
MS is a chronic autoimmune disease without a cure, and while the cause is unknown, it is believed to be a combination of environmental and genetic factors.
The disease is unpredictable and can manifest differently in each patient depending on the extent of nerve damage; while some see a mild course of disease, others can lose their ability to walk and speak.
MS patients may face other complications too, like depression, paralysis, bowel issues and epilepsy, the Mayo Clinic explains on its webpage.
When patients are diagnosed, about 90% will have a so-called relapsing-remitting form of disease defined by symptoms like fatigue, numbness, tingling, blurred vision and weakness lasting for days or weeks before partially resolving.
“Patients may then remain symptom-free for weeks, months or even years (known as remission). Without treatment, most people with MS will develop disease symptoms that will gradually worsen over time (known as relapsing),” Hopkins Medicine explains on its webpage.
