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Apr 2, 2024 · In August 2021, Applegate announced she had been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis -- commonly referred to as MS-- a "potentially disabling disease of the brain and spinal cord (central nervous...
- Anthony Dominic
Mar 26, 2024 · In August 2021 at the age of 49, Applegate announced she had been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis -- commonly referred to as MS -- a "potentially disabling disease of the brain and spinal...
Mar 13, 2024 · Christina Applegate Reveals She Likely Had Multiple Sclerosis “for Six or Seven Years” Before Diagnosis. The longtime TV and film actress said she initially noticed symptoms of the...
- Overview
- Recognizing MS symptoms early
- Why early diagnosis of MS is important
- Why MS can be difficult to diagnose
- What to know about multiple sclerosis
Early signs of multiple sclerosis (MS) may include dizziness, trouble balancing or walking, loss of vision, unilateral facial pain or numbness, vertigo, and new leg weakness.
•Actor Christina Applegate said she missed early symptoms of multiple sclerosis (MS) such as difficulty with balance a few years ago.
•Experts say it can be difficult to diagnose MS from early symptoms because things such as fatigue and anxiety can be caused by other factors.
•Early diagnosis can be important for treating MS since some interventions could help ease symptoms when introduced sooner.
Christina Applegate says she missed the early signs of multiple sclerosis (MS) and now wishes she had noticed them before she was diagnosed with the disease.
The 51-year-old actor known for her roles in “Anchorman” and “The Sweetest Thing” was diagnosed with MS in 2021.
Experts agree with Applegate that the sooner one recognizes MS symptoms, the better.
“In people who have multiple sclerosis, it is most important to look for signs of a new inflammatory relapse,” Dr. Paige Sutton, a neurologist specializing in neuroimmunology and multiple sclerosis for OhioHealth, told Healthline.
“Relapses are typically very obvious and would include new neurologic symptoms that are constant and last for more than 24 hours,” Sutton said.
“Symptoms could include loss of vision/blurry vision in one eye, unilateral facial pain or numbness, vertigo, new weakness or sensory changes on one side or in both legs, or with walking.”
Sutton noted that a “pseudo-relapse” — in which symptoms worsen — can also occur during bodily stresses such as infection, lack of sleep, and emotional stress.
“It is important to consider a ‘pseudo-relapse’ as the cause of symptoms if they are symptoms that have previously occurred during a relapse,” Sutton said.
Opinions differ as to the effectiveness of early diagnosis. It’s unclear whether Applegate’s illness would have been improved if her condition was diagnosed sooner.
But for Angie Randall, a communications specialist from Chicago, her early diagnosis made a big difference.
“I was diagnosed with MS at the age of 29, shortly after I got married,” Randall told Healthline.
“I was devastated and fearful knowing I always wanted to have a family and children one day. I found a neurologist who helped me start treatment right away and supported my family-planning goals.”
Randall has since become a mother of two.
“In working closely with (my doctor), I was able to manage my MS and fulfill my dream of having children,” Randall said.
Dr. Nora Lansen, a primary care doctor and virtual clinic director with Galileo Health in New York, told Healthline that a problem with diagnosing MS is that symptoms aren’t always specific to the condition.
For instance, Applegate’s fatigue and difficulty with balance prior to her MS diagnosis could have been related to other health conditions.
“Fatigue, anxiety, low mood, decreased focus, constipation — these are all symptoms that are frequently encountered by people who have MS,” Lansen said.
“They are also symptoms frequently encountered by people who do not have MS.”
Lansen added that the likelihood of these symptoms being early signs of MS is relatively low.
“Situational stress, seasonal affective disorder, PMS, and thyroid dysfunction are just a few alternate diagnoses that are much more common causes of these symptoms than multiple sclerosis,” she said.
According to the Multiple Sclerosis Society, MS “is a disease that impacts the brain, spinal cord and optic nerves, which make up the central nervous system and controls everything we do.”
The exact cause is unknown. Something triggers the immune system to attack the central nervous system. That can damage myelin, the protective layer insulating wire-like nerve fibers, and disrupt signals to and from the brain.
This change can cause unpredictable symptoms such as numbness, tingling, mood changes, memory problems, pain, fatigue, blindness, and/or paralysis.
Everyone’s experience with MS is different and these symptoms may be temporary or long-lasting.
MS is not directly inherited from one’s parents, but genetics can be a factor. Having a relative with MS can be a risk factor.
There is no cure for MS, but symptoms are treatable with medication and stress management.
Jan 17, 2024 · Applegate, who has multiple sclerosis, was visible moved by the warm response when she appeared on stage to present the first award of the night. She found light in the moment, too.
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Aug 10, 2021 · Christina Applegate has revealed that she has been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. The 49-year-old actress shared the news Monday evening, posting a message to her 1.4 million...
Aug 10, 2021 · Actress Christina Applegate has announced that she has been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. The 49-year-old, known for her roles in “Bad Moms,” “Married… with Children” and “Dead to...
