Sclerosis is a term used to indicate the stiffening of tissues, which may be due to neurological, genetic or immunological issues, which can lead to the compromise of the organism and decrease in the person's quality of life.
Depending on the cause, sclerosis can be classified as tuberous, systemic, amyotrophic lateral or multiple, each presenting different characteristics, symptoms and prognosis.
1. Tuberous sclerosis
Tuberous sclerosis is a genetic disease characterized by the appearance of benign tumors in various parts of the body, such as the brain, kidneys, skin and heart, for example, causing symptoms related to the location of the tumor, such as skin blemishes, lesions on the face, arrhythmia, palpitations, epilepsy, hyperactivity, schizophrenia and persistent cough.
Symptoms can appear in childhood and the diagnosis can be made by means of genetic and imaging tests, such as cranial tomography and magnetic resonance imaging, depending on the tumor's development site.
This type of sclerosis has no cure, and the treatment is carried out with the aim of relieving symptoms and improving quality of life through the use of medications such as anti-convulsants, physical therapy and psychotherapy sessions. It is also important that the person has periodic monitoring by a doctor, such as cardiologist, neurologist or general practitioner, for example, depending on the case. Understand what tuberous sclerosis is and how to treat it.
2. Systemic sclerosis
Systemic sclerosis, also known as scleroderma, is an autoimmune disease characterized by hardening of the skin, joints, blood vessels and some organs. This disease is more common in women between 30 and 50 years old and the most characteristic symptoms are numbness in the fingers and toes, difficulty breathing and severe pain in the joints.
In addition, the skin becomes rigid and dark, making it difficult to change facial expressions, in addition to highlighting the body's veins. It is also common for people with scleroderma to have bluish fingertips, characterizing Raynaud's phenomenon.
The treatment of scleroderma is done with the aim of reducing symptoms, and the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs is usually recommended by the doctor. Learn more about systemic sclerosis.
3. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis or ALS is a neurodegenerative disease in which there is the destruction of neurons responsible for the movement of voluntary muscles, leading to progressive paralysis of the arms, legs or face, for example.
The symptoms of ALS are progressive, that is, as neurons are degraded, there is a decrease in muscle strength, as well as difficulty in walking, chewing, speaking, swallowing or maintaining posture. As this disease affects only motor neurons, the person still has his senses preserved, that is, he is able to hear, feel, see, smell and identify the taste of food.
ALS has no cure, and the treatment is indicated with the aim of improving the quality of life. Treatment is usually done through physiotherapy sessions and the use of medications according to the guidance of the neurologist, such as Riluzole, which slows down the course of the disease. See how ALS treatment is done.
4. Multiple sclerosis
Multiple sclerosis is a neurological disease, of unknown cause, characterized by the loss of the myelin sheath of neurons, leading to the appearance of symptoms suddenly or progressively, such as weakness of the legs and arms, urinary or fecal incontinence, extreme tiredness, loss memory and difficulty concentrating.
Multiple sclerosis can be classified into three types according to the manifestation of the disease:
- Outbreak-remission multiple sclerosis: It is the most common form of the disease, being more frequent in people under 40 years of age. This type of multiple sclerosis occurs in outbreaks, in which the symptoms suddenly appear and then disappear. Outbreaks occur at intervals of months or years and last less than 24 hours;
- Secondarily progressive multiple sclerosis: It is a consequence of outbreak-remission multiple sclerosis, in which there is an accumulation of symptoms over time, making movement recovery difficult and leading to a progressive increase in disabilities;
- Primarily progressive multiple sclerosis: In this type of multiple sclerosis, symptoms progress slowly and progressively, without outbreaks. Properly progressive multiple sclerosis is more common in people over 40 and is considered to be the most severe form of the disease.
Multiple sclerosis has no cure, and treatment must be carried out for a lifetime and, in addition, it is important that the person accepts the disease and adapts their lifestyle. Treatment is usually done with the use of medications that depend on the person's symptoms, in addition to physical therapy and occupational therapy. See how multiple sclerosis is treated.
Also watch the following video and find out what exercises to do to feel better:
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