With almost 40 years on the screen, Christina Applegate – now 49 – has grown up in the public eye. Yet, having been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, she now “asks for privacy” as she goes “through this thing”. In a candid post on Twitter, Christina said: “Hi friends. A few months ago I was diagnosed with MS [multiple sclerosis]. It’s been a strange journey. But I have been so supported by people that I know who also have this condition.”
The mum-of-one continued: “It’s been a tough road. But as we all know, the road keeps going. Unless some a*e blocks it.”
On the morning of Tuesday, August 10, Christina added: “As one of my friends that has MS said, ‘We wake up and take the indicated action.’
“And that’s what I do. So now I ask for privacy. As I go through this thing. Thank you xo [sic].”
Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
The life-long condition affects the brain and spinal cord, the NHS confirmed.
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MS is “one of the most common causes of disability in younger adults”, with the condition typically diagnosed in a person’s 20s or 30s, or beyond.
The main symptoms of MS include:
- Fatigue
- Difficulty walking
- Vision problems, such as blurred vision
- Problems controlling the bladder
- Numbness or tingling in different parts of the body
- Muscle stiffness and spasms
- Problems with balance and co-ordination
- Problems with thinking, learning and planning.
Some people with MS will experience symptoms that come and go, whereas others could experience a progressively worse condition.
The symptoms have been described as “unpredictable” by the national health service, and problems can lead to:
- Sexual problems
- Bladder problems
- Bowel problems
- Speech and swallowing difficulties.
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Neuropathic pain can develop, which may lead to stabbing sensations in the face.
Another indication of the condition is when a burning, hugging, or squeezing sensation affects the trunk and limbs.
What causes MS?
The health condition is caused by a combination of genetic and environmental factors.
Categorically an autoimmune condition, the immune system attacks the myelin sheath in the brain and spinal cord.
The myelin sheath is a layer that surrounds the nerve cells, which is supposed to protect the nerves and help to transport electrical signals from the brain to the rest of the body.
When the immune system attacks the myelin sheath, inflamed lesions can be picked up on an MRI scan.
“These patches of inflammation can disrupt the messages travelling along the nerves,” the NHS elaborated.
“It can slow them down, jumble them, send them the wrong way, or stop them getting through completely.”
The myelin sheath is a layer that surrounds the nerve cells, which is supposed to protect the nerves and help to transport electrical signals from the brain to the rest of the body.
When the immune system attacks the myelin sheath, inflamed lesions can be picked up on an MRI scan.
“These patches of inflammation can disrupt the messages travelling along the nerves,” the NHS elaborated.
“It can slow them down, jumble them, send them the wrong way, or stop them getting through completely.”
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