Multiple Sclerosis No Longer Considered A “White Man’s Disease”!
By Raj Singh
VANCOUVER – The MS society estimates that 55,000-75,000 Canadians live with multiple sclerosis. Every day, three more people are diagnosed, which gives Canada one of the highest rates of MS in the world The disease occurs more often in countries located further away from the equator.
The Multiple Sclerosis International Federation first published a survey of MS rates in 2008 and Canada topped the list. Since then, the rate here has jumped another 18%.
And some of that rise in MS has unfortunately come in the Indo-Canadian community.
A researcher in British Columbia is trying to come up with funding to study South Asian patients in British Columbia, where more and more MS is appearing in people of Indo-Canadian descent.
In order to raise awareness and to help fellow South Asians who have MS, Nav Sahota is combining charity with the Canadian Hockey Spirit by having a hockey pool that would raise funds for MS. Please support this MS hockey pool fundraising – the cost of entry is only $20.
Multiple sclerosis can occur at any age but it’s usually diagnosed between the ages of 15 to 40 — the career and family building years. MS is three times as likely to occur in women as men. Now we’re finding MS is becoming much more of a global disease. It is being recognized and diagnosed much more often now in people who are not of northern or central European ancestry.
MS is a long lasting disease that affects the brain, spinal cord, and the optic nerves in your eyes. It can cause problems with vision, balance, muscle control, and other basic body functions.
Some people have mild symptoms and don’t need treatment. Others will have trouble getting around and doing daily tasks. Most people with MS have attacks, also called relapses, when the condition gets noticeably worse. They’re usually followed by times of recovery when symptoms improve. For other people, the disease continues to get worse over time.
MS happens when your immune system attacks a fatty material called myelin, which wraps around your nerve fibers to protect them. Without this outer shell, your nerves become damaged. Scar tissue may form.
The damage means your brain can’t send signals through your body correctly. Your nerves also don’t work as they should to help you move and feel. As a result, you may have symptoms like:
•Trouble walking
•Feeling tired
•Muscle weakness or spasms
•Blurred or double vision
•Numbness and tingling
•Poor bladder or bowel control
•Pain
•Depression
•Problems focusing or remembering
Please support this MS hockey pool fundraising.
COST: $20 per entry,
30% of the proceeds will be donated to the MS society with the remaining 70% being distributed as follows:
1st Place-50%
2nd Place -30%
3rd Place-15%
Last place gets 5% (Hence there is an incentive for you even if you are not very hockey savvy J)
For any questions please contact or email Nav at 778-235-9665, [email protected]
| COST: $20 per entry, SITE: HOCKEYDRAFT.CA Pool ID: MS2015 PASSWORD: Canucks |
DEADLINE: OCT 10/2015 EMAIL PICKS TO : [email protected]
