Multiple sclerosis is called a disease of young people for a reason – in most, cases it is diagnosed between the ages of 20 to 50. This chronic illness has nothing to do with dementia or Alzheimer’s. The word "sclerosis" means scarring, and it results from changed immune system response destroying its own nerve tissue cells and developing scar tissue instead. “Multiple” in this case implies a pathological process "distributed across the whole nervous system."

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Due to the high risk of developing this condition in young adulthood, it’s better to discover it in the early stages.

Here are 8 most common early signs of multiple sclerosis, which are a good reason to consult a doctor.

1. Tremor

This sign is present in most cases of this disease. Tremor can bring a lot of inconveniences and make a person’s life extremely difficult, as it becomes problematic to perform even the simplest and most routine tasks – dial a phone number, hold a glass of water, and button up. Trembling of the limbs is caused by damaged pathways of motor neurons.

2. Bladder problems

80% of multiple sclerosis patients face this symptom. If your daily liquid intake hasn’t changed, but you started to visit the restroom more or less often, it can be a sign of this disease.

Pay extra attention to the following problems:

• sudden urge;
• rare urination;
• inability to fully empty the bladder;
• frequent urination.

3. Emotional disorders

Depressive thoughts, sudden mood swings, bursts of tears or laughter for no apparent reason can also be symptoms of multiple sclerosis. This is caused by the disease damaging the brain cells, which in turn affects the emotional state of a person. Ignoring these symptoms can lead to prolonged and profound depressions due to the disease development.

4. Vision problems

It is another most common sign of multiple sclerosis. Visual analyzer disorders can occur suddenly and manifest in the following ways:

• "floaters” – spots in front of the eyes;
• blurred vision;
• changes in color vision;
• a feeling of a foreign object in the eye;
• graying of vision;
• problems with vision in one eye.

You can begin noticing the listed symptoms much later than they appear or attribute them to eye fatigue from the computer and other gadget screens. But the real reason can be hidden in a much more serious disease.

5. Impaired coordination

Sudden dizziness, strange sensations while walking, loss of balance. These signs can indicate various disorders – from blood pressure problems to inner ear diseases. If these problems persist, we advise you to see a doctor as soon as possible, don’t neglect them.

6. Strange sensations

If your fingertips often go numb or lose sensitivity, you have trouble determining whether it’s cold or hot water running from the tap – make an appointment with a medical specialist. These signs often accompany multiple sclerosis as well.

7. Discomfort in the limbs

It can manifest as follows:

• burning sensations;
• tingling;
• crawling sensations;
• skin shrinking.

These unpleasant sensations can occur even in smaller areas of the body: the wrist, thigh, finger. Many people mistake these signs. Naturally, discomfort in the limbs doesn’t always indicate multiple sclerosis, but if you began to observe these symptoms regularly, don’t neglect them.

8. Trouble with speech and swallowing

In this case, the possible problems include:

• a slowed-down rate of speaking;
• changes in voice;
• quiet or poorly articulated speech.

In addition, a person with multiple sclerosis may have trouble swallowing. Instead of passing through the esophagus into the stomach, liquid and food partially get in the trachea (anatomical formation of the respiratory system).

9. "Electrical shock"

Multiple sclerosis is often accompanied by unpleasant sensations in different parts of the body, resembling an electrical shock. They can occur, for example, when you turn your head, and affect any area – limbs, back, shoulders.

If you have noticed any of the listed signs, it doesn’t necessarily mean that you have multiple sclerosis. However, if you are regularly disturbed by several of them, it wouldn’t be silly to get it checked.

This article is solely for informational purposes. Do not self-diagnose or self-medicate, and in all cases consult a certified healthcare professional before using any information presented in the article. The editorial board does not guarantee any results and does not bear any responsibility for any harm that may result from using the information provided in the article.