What is multiple sclerosis (MS)?

MS is an autoimmune disease in which the body’s defence system attacks the myelin sheaths surrounding the nerves. In the same way that insulation covers an electrical wire, these sheaths cover our nerves. Without the sheaths, the nerves begin to short out. Consequently, the pathways between the brain and the body are interrupted. People with MS experience recurring episodes of inflammation and damage to the sheaths.

What are the symptoms?

MS has a wide range of symptoms. They are unpredictable and vary depending on the type of MS. They also vary from time to time in the same person. Symptoms may include fatigue, vertigo, clumsiness, muscle weakness, slurred speech, unsteady gait, blurred or double vision, numbness, weakness or pain in the face, tingling, temporary blindness, impaired sense of touch, incontinence, constipation and cognitive impairment. MS can affect any part of the body, though it usually starts with a single episode of nerve dysfunction, very often an inflammation of the optic nerve in one eye.

It is not uncommon too for MS patients to experience depression. And, as with so many things, good breathing techniques can make a difference here. Clinical trials at the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS), Bangalore, India, showed that regular practice of sudarshan kriya yogic (SKY) breathing reduces symptoms of depression and is as effective as the established anti-depressant drug, imipramine.

How many people have it?

MS is difficult to diagnose and symptoms can be completely invisible, but estimates suggest that about 18,000 Australians have this chronic disease and every year the number of people diagnosed increases by 7 per cent. Worldwide, MS affects about 2.5 million people.

Who does it affect?

Onset is usually between 20 and 40 years of age and it’s more common in women, with a ratio of two men to three women affected. MS more commonly affects people in temperate rather than tropical climates.

What causes it?

Not much research has been done on MS and the exact cause is not yet known. Doctors believe it’s caused by a combination of genetic and environmental factors. Although it isn’t primarily regarded as an inherited disorder, twin studies suggest the presence of certain genes can make one susceptible to it. Other factors, possibly a viral infection, may also play a part.

Yoga for MS

Yoga practices can vary from gentle and accommodating to strenuous and challenging. Hatha yoga is typically a gentler style of yoga, combining asanas (physical poses), pranayamas (breathing techniques), deep relaxation and meditation.

Practising yoga may not be able to cure MS, but it can certainly ease the crippling effects of it. Today, people with a wide range of medical problems use yoga as a way of managing their symptoms and coping more effectively.

“Yoga is beneficial for people with MS,” says Dr Maneesha Patel. “Yoga and breathing exercises help improve the muscular and skeletal systems, cultivating a positive state of mind ... and that’s how they can get better.”

The effect of hatha yoga on MS patients was studied by the National Institute of Health in America. Results showed various areas of improvement, specifically in fatigue experienced by individuals with MS.