Multiple Sclerosis
An autoimmune disease like MS can be triggered in a pro-inflammatory environment. Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is an inflammatory disease of the central nervous system. It is an autoimmune condition. The immune system goes into overdrive and mistakenly attacks the myelin sheath. Myelin is a protective layer around nerves, like the rubber layer around an electrical cord. Myelin increases nerve signaling. When myelin is damaged, nerve conduction and signaling is compromised. This leads to neurological symptoms that affect the brain or spinal cord of the nervous system.
The most common symptoms of MS include fatigue, numbness and tingling, blurred vision, double vision, weakness, poor coordination, imbalance, pain, depression and cognitive problems with memory and concentration. Less frequent but possible symptoms include tremor, paralysis or blindness (National MS Society, 2020). MS is progressive and typically debilitating, although occasionally it can be mild. MS leads to substantial disability in more than 50% of patients
If the environment is not inflammatory, then it is less likely that autoimmunity will take hold. The pro-inflammatory environment may be created due to an underlying viral infection, Lyme disease or mold illness. As these are often difficult to detect, the infection can have plenty of time to take hold and create systemic inflammation. This can set the scene for autoimmunity, in the form of MS, to develop. Or the established Lyme or mold issue can present with symptoms that mimic MS.
Is Viral Infection a Root Cause of MS?
MS is not a fast-onset disease. It typically is a process that is going on for some time before diagnosis . Unresolved chronic viral infections can have a pathogenic role in triggering an MS autoimmune response. Viruses may manipulate gene expression, leading to inflammation, immune dysregulation and possibly myelin destruction. They can cross the blood brain barrier (BBB) and can establish lifelong chronic infection.
Women and Neurotoxins
It is a known fact that women suffer eight times more gut toxicity than men. They have more urinary tract infections because of a shorter urethra and they are overprescribed antibiotics for “chronic cystitis” which is actually not bacterial, but, yeast in etiology 90 percent of the time. That’s why it is “chronic” cystitis, the gynecologist/family doctor is unknowingly treating a yeast infection with an anti-bacterial medication!
Women develop Multiple Sclerosis much more often than men because of their increased neurotoxin levels. During the initial years of undiagnosed neurotoxicity, most women notice a new onset of anxiety issues and fibromyalgia symptoms. With prolonged undiagnosed neurotoxicity issues, most women will develop Multiple Sclerosis, full-blown destruction of the myelin sheath, the insulation on brain nerves.
Demyelination in the brain can be initiated by viruses. For example, acute demyelinating damage to the brain can happen after a measles infection. Epstein–Barr virus, herpes virus and others play a role in MS pathogenesis
