MS, more common among women

MS, or multiple sclerosis, is a chronic inflammatory disease that affects the central nervous system. In 1940, two out of three with the condition were women but by the year 2000, that figure went up to four out of five. "We also need to ask the general questions about what women do differently than men, such as use of hair dye and cosmetics that may block vitamin D absorption," said Dr Gary Cutter, from the University of Alabama in Birmingham. In another study, researchers also found the largest increase in the ratio of women to men has been for those whose MS started at younger ages. MS can cause a variety of symptoms, including changes in sensation, visual problems, muscle weakness, depression, difficulties with coordination and speech, severe fatigue, cognitive impairment, problems with balance, overheating and pain. MS will cause impaired mobility and disability in more severe cases. MS is the most common disabling neurological condition affecting young adults; it is an autoimmune condition - meaning the immune system mistakes the body's own tissue for an infectious foreign body, and attacks it. MGP/SF/BGH
For more information on autoimmune diseases.
www. aarda.org

Congress Designates May 2007 as Autoimmune Disease Awareness Month !

The month of May has been named national Autoimmune Disease Awareness Month (ADAM) by Congress in order to call increased attention to a family of diseases that are still not well-known or well-understood by the medical and research communities and the general public.
The National Coalition of Autoimmune Patient Groups, facilitated by the American Autoimmune Related Disease Association (AARDA), has spearheaded
this advocacy effort. The Congressional resolution is sponsored by Senator Joseph Biden (D-DE) and Congressman Steve Israel (D-NY).
“By declaring May as Autoimmune Disease Awareness Month, Congress is sending a clear message that autoimmune disease is a national health concern that must be paid attention,” explained Senator Biden.
“While many aspects of autoimmune disease are not well-known, we do know that the family of these diseases is under-recognized, and that they post a major healthcare problem in the United States, particularly to women,” added Congressman Israel.
There are more than 80 known autoimmune diseases including multiple sclerosis, juvenile diabetes, Crohn’s disease, scleroderma, polymyositis, lupus, Sj`gren’s disease and Graves’ disease. Autoimmunity is the underlying cause of these diseases. It is the process whereby the immune system mistakenly recognizes the body’s own proteins as foreign invaders and begins producing antibodies that attack healthy cells and tissues, causing a variety of diseases.
According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), there are 24.5 million Americans who suffer from autoimmune diseases and that the prevalence of these diseases is on the rise. Collectively, autoimmune disease is one of the top 10 leading causes of death in children and women under 65 and represents some $100 billion in annual direct health care costs, yet less than six percent of Americans surveyed in a recent Roper poll could identify an autoimmune disease.
AARDA is asking those interested in being a part of the advocacy effort for Autoimmune Disease Awareness Month to contact their congressional representatives to request that they sign onto the resolution as co-sponsors. Contact information for all U.S. senators and congressmen can be found on AARDA’s website at http://www.aarda.org and clicking on “Congress Connect.”
To view the resolutions, , please visit www.thomas.gov and search for H. Res # 258 and S. Res. # 116. For more information, contact AARDA at www.aarda.org