Sclerosis? What is it? What happens to the person who has it?
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Answers:
Scleroderma is a rare, chronic disease characterized by excessive deposits of collagen. Progressive systemic scleroderma or systemic sclerosis, the generalised type of the disease, can be fatal. The localised type of the disease tends not to be fatal. The term 'localised, generalised sclerderma' can be used to describe cases where the disease covers a large area of the body - typically more than 40%.
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic disease that affects the brain and spinal cord. MS can cause a variety of symptoms, including changes in sensation, visual problems, muscle weakness, depression, and difficulties with coordination and speech. Although many patients lead full and rewarding lives, MS can cause impaired mobility and disability in the more severe cases.
Multiple sclerosis affects neurons, the cells of the brain and spinal cord that carry information, create thought and perception and allow the brain to control the body. Surrounding and protecting these neurons is a fatty layer known as the myelin sheath, which helps neurons carry electrical signals. MS causes gradual destruction of myelin (demyelination) and transection of neuron axons in patches throughout the brain and spinal cord, causing various symptoms depending upon which signals are interrupted. The name multiple sclerosis refers to the multiple scars (or scleroses) on the myelin sheaths. It is thought that MS results from attacks by an individual's immune system on the nervous system and is therefore categorized as an autoimmune disease.
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS, sometimes called Lou Gehrig's disease or Maladie de Charcot) is a progressive, almost invariably fatal motor neurone disease. In ALS, both the upper motor neurons and the lower motor neurons degenerate or die, ceasing to send messages to muscles. Unable to function, the muscles gradually weaken, waste away (atrophy), and have fasciculations because of denervation. Eventually, the ability of the brain to start and control voluntary movement is lost. However, even patients in advanced stages of the disease may retain the same intelligence, memory, and personality they had before its onset.
Stephen Hawking, who was diagnosed with ALS in 1963ALS causes weakness with a wide range of disabilities. Eventually, all muscles under voluntary control are affected, and patients lose their strength and the ability to move their arms, legs, and body. When muscles in the diaphragm and chest wall fail, patients lose the ability to breathe without help from mechanical ventilation. Most people with ALS die from respiratory failure, usually within 3 to 5 years from the onset of symptoms. However, about 10 % of ALS patients survive for 8 or more years (like Jason Becker) . Patients with a bulbar or respiratory onset generally have a worse prognosis, although this is not consistently true due to the heterogeneous nature of the disease.
Other Answers:
do you mean atherosclerosis, multiple sclerosis, or scleroderma?
A hardening or induration of an organ or tissue, esp. that due to excessive growth of fibrous tissue
Arteriosclerosis is a disease of the arterial vessels marked by thickening, hardening, and loss of elasticity in the arterial walls. Three forms of arteriosclerosis are generally recognized: atherosclerosis, sclerosis of arterioles, and calcific sclerosis of the medial layer of arteries (Mönckeberg's calcification). Atherosclerosis is the single most important cause of disease and death in Western societies.
Atherosclerosis is the most common form of arteriosclerosis, marked by cholesterol-lipid-calcium deposits in the walls of arteries. The initial pathological changes, called fatty streaks, are visible on the endothelial (skin) surfaces of major blood vessels by the age of 10. These lesions may progress to thickening of the lining of arteries (a process called intimal thickening) if risk factors for atherosclerosis are not addressed. Whether these lesions in turn progress to advanced lesions, called fibrous plaques, depends on hemodynamic forces (such as hypertension) and abnormal plasma levels of lipoproteins (e.g, high levels of total and LDL cholesterol; low levels of HDL cholesterol). Ultimately, arteries affected by the disease may become nearly completely blocked, a condition that causes insufficient blood flow (ischemia). If a plaque within a blood vessel suddenly ruptures, the blood vessel can close and organs or tissues may infarct.
Source(s):
Nursing School
ok, i just want to say wow to taxigirl, the nursing student, who has apparently been paying attention in her classes or has a pathophysiology book layed in her lap. Good job girl, apply this to your nursing career when your done, you will make a good nurse!
Sclerosis is a hardening of tissue, and can refer to:
1.multiple sclerosis
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multiple_sclerosis
2.systemic sclerosis (progressive systemic scleroderma)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Systemic_sclerosis
3.amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amyotrophic_lateral_sclerosis
Source(s):
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sclerosis
You received some really good answers. They make me think that might be whats wrong with me. I wonder what kind of specialist would be the best type to go to. My Doctor just treats me for fibromaylagia only as my one arm and one leg is atrophying. I hope you get more answers. Thanks for this question.
An abnormal hardening of body tissue..
A disease involving damage to the sheaths of nerve cells and leading to partial or complete paralysis.
Source(s):
Oxford dictionary;-).
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