Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) can affect cardiovascular function in a variety of ways leading to abnormalities in blood pressure response, heart rate, heart rhythm, left ventricular systolic function, and may cause pulmonary edema or cardiomyopathy.
MS has been associated with higher rates of cardiovascular disease, including stroke, heart attack, death from CVD, and peripheral vascular disease. The reason for this is not yet fully understood but could be related to a combination of factors, including inflammation, genetics, and associated risk factors.
Heart palpitations in MS can be caused by anxiety, medication side effects, co-occurring hypertension, and MS itself. Palpitations are irregular heart rhythms or unusually rapid heartbeats. Palpitations can feel like skipped heartbeats or a feeling of fluttering, pounding, or flip-flopping in the chest.
The MS hug commonly feels like squeezing and pain in the chest, or like a muscle spasm under the rib cage. Because these sensations are often also reported as symptoms of a heart attack, some MS patients say the MS hug can feel like having a heart attack.
Multiple sclerosis (MS), neurologic disease affecting young population, may cause cardiovascular dysfunction, due to autonomous nervous dysfunction, physical invalidity, increased oxidative stress, and systemic inflammatory status. However, cardiovascular function is rarely evaluated in these patients.
The MS hug, also known as banding or girdling, is a symptom of multiple sclerosis in which you feel chest pain, rib pain or a tight uncomfortable band around your chest. It can be felt anywhere between the neck and the waist and may feel so tight around the chest that it's painful to breathe.
One recent study found high blood pressure (hypertension) is 25% more common among people with MS than others. It affects 17% to 30% of those with MS. Lack of physical activity is one of the leading causes of high blood pressure. And some research has found that people with MS sit for approximately 7.5 hours a day.
It is also known as neuromyelitis optica (NMO) or Devic's disease. Some of its symptoms are similar to the symptoms of multiple sclerosis, so it may be misdiagnosed as such.
The 'MS hug' is symptom of MS that feels like an uncomfortable, sometimes painful feeling of tightness or pressure, usually around your stomach or chest. The pain or tightness can stretch all around the chest or stomach, or it can be just on one side. The MS hug can feel different from one person to another.
Migraines are one of the most common mimicker diseases that can be misdiagnosed for MS. Migraine causes intense throbbing headaches, light sensitivity, and nausea. Many migraine sufferers have also experienced blurred vision similar to the kind caused by optic neuritis in MS patients.
The time between beats is measured in milliseconds (ms) and is called an “R-R interval” or “inter-beat interval (IBI).” While heart rate focuses on the average beats per minute, heart rate variability (HRV) measures the specific changes in time (or variability) between successive heart beats.
Symptoms You Already Have Get Worse
When MS is progressing, you might notice those muscles are not only getting weaker, but you're having more tightness and cramping in that area, too, Dr. Samdrawlar says. A general worsening can be true for whatever symptom you have, whether it's vision, numbness, or balance issues.
It's a lifelong condition that can sometimes cause serious disability, although it can occasionally be mild. In many cases, it's possible to treat symptoms. Average life expectancy is slightly reduced for people with MS.
The complications of MS range from mild to severe. They can range from fatigue to the inability to walk. Other problems include loss of vision, balance, and bowel or bladder control. Depression can result from the difficulty of living with a chronic condition.
Early MS symptoms may include blurred vision, numbness, dizziness, muscle weakness, and coordination issues. MS is progressive and can worsen over time. Eventually, the disease can do damage directly to the nerves, causing permanent disability.
MS can damage the nerves that affect your muscles. This can cause acute or paroxysmal pain in the form of spasms. Your arms and legs might shoot out uncontrollably and might have pain like cramping or pulling. Nerve pain can also be chronic in the form of painful or unusual sensations on your skin.
Epstein-Barr virus may be leading cause of multiple sclerosis.
Current or previous smokers with the highest levels of EBV antibodies were 70 percent more likely to develop MS than those with neither risk factor. Study Provides Strongest Evidence Yet for the Role of Epstein-Barr Virus in Triggering Multiple Sclerosis. Ask an MS Expert: The Role of Epstein-Barr Virus in MS.
Is MS hereditary? MS is not directly inherited from parent to child. There's no single gene that causes it. Over 200 genes might affect your chances of getting MS.
Multiple sclerosis (MS) triggers that worsen symptoms or cause a relapse can include stress, heart disease and smoking. While some are easier to avoid than others, maintaining a healthy lifestyle and overall health and wellness can have outsized benefits for MS patients.
Many people living with MS also live with conditions (comorbidities) like diabetes, hypertension (high blood pressure), heart disease, lung disease, and certain mood disorders. Some people also live with other autoimmune conditions.