Re-evaluating Botox Safety in Treating MS
Botox, or Botulinum toxin has been used as one of the treatments for a number of ailments that included multiple sclerosis. Scientists have discovered that injecting minute quantities of the Botulinum toxin A in overactive muscles result to decreased muscle activity by blocking the release of acetylcholine at the neuromuscular junction. This makes the target muscle unable to contract for a period that can last from four to six months.
For this reason, Botox has been used to treat a variety of conditions, most notably as a treatment for wrinkles. But recently, there have been reports that the use of Botox for treatment may bring with it certain ill effects that have lead to death on several children who have used Botox or a related drug.
This month, the Food and Drug Administration has issued a public alert on Botox and a similar drug called Myobloc and had them linked to some life-threatening symptoms such as strained breathing and a severe difficulty in swallowing which can further lead to a form of pneumonia. The FDA has advised doctors to monitor patients taking the said drug treatments for severe reactions as they decide on whether to strengthen warnings on the drug labels.
The most adverse reactions to the use of Botox treatment has occurred among children who were treated for cerebral palsy associated limb spascity. It is also important to note that the said drugs are not approved y the FDA for use in children as well as adults. As Botox has been popularly used for cosmetic treatments, their use for treating medical conditions such as multiple sclerosis may also be affected.
Although they might prove to be effective in trying to relive some of the symptoms associated with the disease, some adverse reactions that such treatments might cause may be something to consider before MS patients decide on using Botox for treatment. As of the present, further testing may be required in trying to evaluate just how safe Botox may be as a treatment.
Myths About Multiple Sclerosis
Multiple sclerosis has become quite a misunderstood medical condition. This has led to a number of misinformation of the debilitating disease that has kept a lot of people in fear, all for the wrong reasons. Here are some myths that have been wandering around for a long time now that people should finally know about.
“Multiple Sclerosis is a fatal disease.”
There are people who think that having MS is already like having a death sentence. Studies have shown this to be not the case. Multiple sclerosis in itself may not be such a fatal disease if it is treated at its early stages. Most of the deaths caused by MS are due to complications that happen in the advanced and progressive stages of the disease. Early treatment may help prevent these complications from happening.
“People with MS will eventually end up in a wheelchair.”
Although MS is considered as a debilitating disease, it may not be fair to conclude that everyone who suffers from it would end up in a wheelchair. People with MS might need a wheelchair at times because they might find it hard to walk. But it would not mean that they would lose their mobility that way in the end. MS sufferers need not be wheelchair bound all the time. It is just a way to conserve energy sometimes as most may still have the ability to walk.
“People with MS should stop working.”
Just because people are suffering from Ms does not necessarily mean that they have to stop working. The symptoms that MS may show can make it a hindrance to work at time. But it should not be the reason why one should stop working altogether. People with MS may stop work, but it should not hinder them from being productive. If MS might prove to be a hindrance, a career change may be an exciting opportunity to consider. MS sufferers can exchange a physically draining job for something that may require less effort but might give just about the same kind of fulfillment.
“With enough willpower, you can cure MS.”
Although willpower can get MS sufferers through very tough times, it is in no way enough to cure the condition. As of the present, there is no known cure for multiple sclerosis. The symptoms that sufferers experience may lead them to think that it might be al in their head and can go away with the right amount of willpower. In fact, such symptoms, without the right kind of treatment, won’t go away and would just get worse.
Diet for Multiple Sclerosis
In the fight to curb the threat of multiple sclerosis, scientists are trying to look at nutrition and diet to help what may be a means of managing the different conditions that MS sufferers may find themselves into. Although still considered as an incurable disease, multiple sclerosis sufferers may have a chance of living a more comfortable life by seeking ways to manage the debilitating symptoms brought about by the disease. One factor that may affect MS sufferers can be linked to their diet.One factor that may be closely linked to the development of multiple sclerosis is the consumption of essential fatty acids, mainly that of the omega-3 kind. Omega-3 fatty acids are more commonly known as fish oils. Scientists have discovered that people living in areas such as Japan and the Norwegian Coast where fish consumption is high have a lower incidence of multiple sclerosis than those expected from areas belonging on the same latitude. This shows that diet may also pose as a factor in MS along with geographic location. Scientists believe that it is the Omega-3 fatty acids in fish that may provide some protective measure against multiple sclerosis.
A diet that includes consumption of fish oils, low intake of saturated fats and high intake of unsaturated fats may help in reducing the symptoms of multiple sclerosis. The Omega-3 fatty acids have been known to help reduce inflammation in certain allergic conditions. Elevating the consumption of Omega-3 fatty acids, scientists believe may have an effect on how some symptoms of MS may eventually develop.
Another nutrient that scientists have discovered to have an effect on MS is the family of carotenoids, mainly alpha- and beta-carotene. Studies have found that exposure to longer periods of light may help in the release of carotenoids in the eye. Aside from helping to curb down allergic inflammation, carotenoids seem to help in preventing MS associated eye damage.
Another possible factor in the development of MS may be linked to vitamin B12 deficiency. A study at the King’s College Hospital in London, England by Dr. E.H. Reynolds showed that MS patients seem to suffer also from vitamin B12 deficiency. Giving MS patients with doses of vitamin B12 seem to offer some neurological benefit although it was initially done for placebo purposes. The surprising result may show the association that the said vitamin may have on multiple sclerosis.
The effect of these nutrients on people with MS suggests that a change in diet may also have an impact on the symptoms that sufferers of the said disease may experience. Although more studies may be needed in order to know just to what extent diet may affect the development of MS, the preliminary studies may have already shown how diet may help reduce certain symptoms that MS may bring and ultimately help prevent the development of the disease.
