4. Multiple sclerosis
Multiple sclerosis, often shortened to MS, is a disease that causes damage to the myelin sheath. The myelin sheath is a protective coating that surrounds each nerve cell in your body. It is an integral part of the health of your cells.
Think of it like a fur coat during the cold winter months. When this myelin sheath is damaged, the transmission of messages between your body and brain will be negatively impacted. To further the analogy, it’s like losing your fur coat during the peak of winter and being late for work since you have to walk in the cold without a coat to keep you warm.
When the myelin sheath is damaged, you could suffer from a myriad of adverse effects including difficulty walking, balance issues, weakness, and numbness. There are multiple forms of the disease, and each one progresses at a different rate. For most people who have multiple sclerosis, they’ll need assistance to walk within the first 15 years of being diagnosed.