Facts About Multiple Sclerosis: Celebrities With The Disease

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disease in which the body’s immune system damages the spinal cord and the brain. The nerve cells that cover the brain and the spinal cord are damaged, Healthline.com states. Since these parts form the central nervous system, damage to them causes loss of vision, sensation, body balance and muscle control. Simple physical activity becomes difficult to perform.

The National Multiple Sclerosis Society revealed that nearly 2.3 million people are affected with MS worldwide. Most of them are adult and middle aged people. The risk of developing the disease decreases after the age of 50, it stated. The condition was also found to be more common in females than in males.

There are various symptoms of M including blurry vision, lack of coordination, eye pain and muscle weakness, according to Mayo Clinic. The disease is progressive and causes severe pain, fatigue, muscle stiffness, problems with cognition and failure in muscle coordination.

Several celebrities suffer from the disease, and have come out in the open and spoken about it. Jack Osbourne, Richard Cohe, Tamia and Chad Vaccarino are few of these personalities. They have all gone through different treatments, which managed to help some in dealing with the disease.

Jack Osbourne

Son of Ozzy and Sharon Osbourned, Jack was diagnosed with MS at the age of 26. He first observed that he had problems with his vision. A consultation with a doctor revealed that he has MS, he told People in 2012. He also stated that he was frustrated with the disease, but he later found relief by following the paleo diet. He shared that the diet helped him overcome the symptoms and lead a normal life.

Montel Williams

Talk show host, Montel Williams, disclosed in another People report that he was diagnosed with MS in 1999 but exhibited the symptoms years before the diagnosis. He said that he suffered so much with the disease that he wanted to take his own life. Later on, a rigorous workout schedule and a healthy diet helped him manage the disease. He has a charity, “Montel Williams MS Fund,” which managed to raise more than $1.5 million to fund the research conducted to find the cure for MS.

Michaele Salahi

The Real Houswives of D.C. star, Michaele Salahi, made her disease public in 2010 through a book about her. She told People that she had kept her disease a secret for the past 17 years. She managed the disease by following a strict diet. In addition, she and her husband decided not to have children because of the disease.

Tamia

Tamia is an R&B singer and the wife of NBA star Grant Hill. She was diagnosed with the disease in 2003, and she shared that a balanced diet and rigorous workout help her get over the symptoms. She further said that her husband being an athlete helped her stay in shape, she said in a separate story in People.

She also said, "When a woman is pregnant, all her symptoms of MS subside. But you have to be careful because after you give birth, here's a higher rate of attacks."

Richard Cohen

Richard Cohen, an Emmy winning TV producer, was diagnosed with MS at the age of 25. He writes regularly in his blog, “Journey Man,” to contribute in the coping process of others suffering from the disease. He told Fox News that people with MS have to try to both overcome the disease and remain realistic about their condition.

The National Multiple Sclerosis Society states that there has been no treatment found to cure MS. However, it states that there are a lot of medications approved by the FDA which could help patients manage and overcome the symptoms.

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