Multiple sclerosis (or MS) is a chronic illness that damages the central nervous system. The central nervous system is composed of the brain, spinal cord, and optic nerves. Scar tissue growing in any of these areas can cause a variety of problems. While it is not known what exactly causes the disease, scientists believe that it results from an autoimmune disorder that affects the nervous system.

MS is characterized by the following early warning signs:

1. Balance issues
Multiple sclerosis can affect your balance for multiple reasons. When there are disruptions in the connection between the brain and the rest of the body, balance issues can arise. For example, if your brain tells you to move, but the message never reaches your leg, it could result in a fall. Multiple sclerosis can also induce muscle weakness or spasms, making walking difficult. It can also create dizziness and vertigo, making it hard to stay upright without assistance, even when standing still. Fatigue will negatively impact your balance too, if you are mentally worn out or your muscles are too tired to support your body.

2. Vision problems
These problems are common with multiple sclerosis and are among the first signs that people come across. Some of the eye problems associated with the disease include double vision (diplopia), nystagmus and optic neuritis. Complete blindness, partial blind patches (scotomas), blurriness, and color vision problems are all symptoms of optic neuritis. It is unlikely that both eyes are affected at once, so see a doctor if you are noticing unexplained issues, particularly just in one eye.

3. Numbness and spasms
Multiple sclerosis causes damage to the nerve transmitters in the brain and spinal cord. This impairment disrupts the standard transmission of messages to the brain, meaning the brain is unable to understand the information it receives. Often, numbness is felt in your legs. However, you may also feel an electric shock moving down your spine, hands or legs. The shock may also be felt when you move your head or neck. Muscle spasms affect more than half of the patients with multiple sclerosis. It is also a common characteristic in those with progressive multiple sclerosis. They range from mild stiffness to painful muscle spasms.

4. Bladder issues
A lot of people with multiple sclerosis suffer from bladder problems, some of which may lead to incontinence when bladder control is compromised. You may feel the urge to pee more frequently or have difficulty in completely emptying your bladder. Constipation and other bowel problems may also be prevalent. Thankfully, treatment and management of urinary incontinence episodes can be done successfully in many ways.

5. Cognitive problems
Cognitive problems, meaning issues with thinking and memory, are another sign of multiple sclerosis. These problems affect memory, concentration, organization, decision-making, and comprehension. Nearly half the people with multiple sclerosis are affected by cognitive problems. Some individuals with MS speak of ‘brain fog’ as a feeling that their mental processes aren’t as well-organized or consistent as before they developed MS. Cognitive issues are frequently caused by multiple sclerosis, although they could also be due to MS medication side effects.