Multiple Sclerosis and Atherosclerosis: What’s the Connection?

Despite their similar names, atherosclerosis and multiple sclerosis (MS) are very different diseases. But due to certain factors, people with MS may be more likely to have atherosclerosis than the general population.

Multiple sclerosis is an autoimmune disease and a neurological disorder, and atherosclerosis (accumulation of plaque in the arteries) is a heart condition. They can be associated in two main ways.

MS can cause lower heart health due to certain side effects of drugs, suggests research. MS and atherosclerosis also have several common risk factors. People with MS can have a higher risk of heart disease due to some of these shared risk factors, including:

• High blood pressure: People with SEP have high blood pressure rates, which is also a risk factor for atherosclerosis.
• High cholesterol: High levels of cholesterol have been linked to memory and thought problems (brain fog) in people with MS. High cholesterol can result in an accumulation of plaque in the arteries.
• Smoking: Smoking is a risk factor for MS and atherosclerosis. It can worsen inflammation and damage your blood vessels and nerves.
• Lack of physical activity: SEP symptoms such as fatigue or muscle stiffness can make the rest active, and be inactive can increase your risk of atherosclerosis.
• Obesity and overweight: Bringing an additional weight puts more stress on your body, which can worsen SEP symptoms. It can also increase your risk of high blood pressure and high cholesterol.

Multiple sclerosis and atherosclerosis have similarities:

• Both involve the immune system: In atherosclerosis, your immune system reacts to damaged blood vessels. The resulting inflammation can cause the formation of the plate and accumulate in your arteries. In MS, your immune system attacks the protective coating of nerves in your brain and spinal cord, which makes your brain more difficult to send signals to your body.
• Both are chronic conditions (long -term): Atherosclerosis is a long -term long -term disease caused by the accumulation of fats and cholesterol in the arteries. MS is also a permanent condition that can cause continuous symptoms.
• Both can affect your quality of life: Atherosclerosis can cause heart attacks, brain vascular accidents, bad blood flow to legs or bulging arteries. MS can affect daily life through long -term symptoms that can worsen over time and often require care of different specialist doctors.

MS and atherosclerosis affect the body in a very different way, in particular:

• Symptoms: Atherosclerosis can cause chest pain, leg cramps during walking or symptoms of stroke as difficult to speak. Symptoms of MS vary considerably and may include vision problems, numbness, muscle weakness, fatigue and problems with balance or walking.
• Age of the beginning: MS generally starts between 20 and 40 years. Atherosclerosis can start early in life, but it generally does not cause symptoms until people are older – the risk increases after the age of 45 for men and the age of 55 for women.
• Treatment: You may be able to manage atherosclerosis with lifestyle changes and drugs to help reduce blood pressure, cholesterol and other risk factors. SEP requires treatment with therapies to slow down nerve lesions, prevent or respond to thrusts and manage symptoms.

There are several ways to stay informed of your health if you have multiple sclerosis and risk or are already atherosclerosis.

• Make changes in lifestyle that help the two conditions: Eat healthy foods for the heart, avoid smoking and used smoke, manage stress and exercise regularly at your own pace. Sweet movements such as walking, yoga or swimming can improve blood circulation and facilitate SEP symptoms and reduce your risk of atherosclerosis.
• Get regular checks: Regularly check your blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar. Ask a health professional to monitor your heart health even if you don’t have symptoms, and let them know if you have chest pain, shortness of breath or swelling of the legs.
• Use a coordinated care approach: Work with a team. It may be useful to have a primary care provider, a neurologist (specialist in nerve conditions such as MS) and a cardiologist (specialist in the heart) who communicate with each other. You can also ask questions about physiotherapy or rehabilitation programs that can improve your mobility, strength and heart health.

It is important to stay in touch with a health care provider to help manage atherosclerosis and MS. The treatment delayed for one or the other condition can lead to serious complications, such as the heart attack, stroke or long -term disability.

Contact your health care provider immediately if you notice one of the following elements:

• Unexpected blood pressure or blood sugar
• Unusual bruises or bleeding while taking aspirin or anticoagulants
• Difficulty taking medication
• Difficulty moving your joints, moving or getting out of your bed or chair
• Skin wounds or redness
• The pain that becomes worse
• Recent Falls
• Suffocation or cough while eating
• Signs of a bladder infection

Atherosclerosis and multiple sclerosis are both long -term conditions that involve the immune system and can cause serious health complications. Although they share certain risk factors such as inflammation, high cholesterol and lack of physical activity, these are distinct conditions. MS affects your brain and nerves, while atherosclerosis affects the cardiovascular system.

If you have a MS, you might be more likely to have atherosclerosis. Early detection, healthy lifestyle choices and regular controls can help manage both conditions and improve quality of life.