I. What is multiple sclerosis (MS)? Multiple sclerosis is an immune-mediated inflammatory demyelinating disease of the central nervous system. The cause of the disease is not well understood and may be related to genetics, environmental factors, viral infections and autoimmunity, which ultimately leads to loss of myelin sheaths in the central nervous system, oligodendrocyte damage, and even damage to axons and nerve cells. The normal human immune system plays a protective role, keeping us safe from external enemies (bacteria, viruses and other pathogens). As the immune system of MS patients is abnormal and over-activated, it mistakenly recognizes its own tissue structure (myelin, the outer layer of nerve fibers in the central nervous system) as an enemy and attacks and destroys it, resulting in damage to nerve fibers. Second, multiple sclerosis head nuclear magnetic manifestation 1, what are the symptoms of MS? Each MS patient will have a series of different symptoms, the severity and duration will also vary, these symptoms depend on the location and severity of the damage to the central nervous system. Common symptoms include: Sensory abnormalities: Some people with MS may experience sensory disturbances such as numbness, pins and needles or tickling, and abnormal temperature sensation. Visual disturbances: vision loss, blurred vision or visual defects. Fatigue: one of the most common symptoms of MS, a state of constant fatigue, associated with neurological deficits and depression. Motor dysfunction: weakness, tonus, spasticity or even paralysis of the limbs. Balance problems: unsteady walking, difficulty with fine motor movements or tremors. Gastrointestinal and bladder problems: frequent urination, inability to empty urine completely, constipation or incontinence. Sexual function problems: reduced sexual function, impotence or lack of sensitivity. Pain: A large number of MS patients report that they sometimes experience acute pain (e.g. pain behind the eyes) or chronic pain (e.g. pain in the limbs or back). Second, how can patients make adjustments to their lives? MS patients should pay attention to the following aspects of life: Prevention of colds and flu: regular work and rest, avoid contact with infected people, eat a reasonable diet, sun exposure. Avoid exertion: exertion will affect the immune system through the central nervous system, overload exercise not only affects the body temperature, body fluid pH, but also causes physiological disorders of nerve conduction. Avoid high temperatures: increased body temperature affects nerve conduction, avoid hot springs, saunas, and pay attention to sunbathing under excessive sunlight. Appropriate exercise: Swimming, yoga and other certain degree of training, to not appear obvious fatigue shall prevail. What is optic neuromyelitis optica (NMO)? Optic neuromyelitis optica was once considered a subtype of multiple sclerosis. Since the discovery of the aquaporin 4 antibody in 2004, international neurologists have come to favor the view that multiple sclerosis and optic neuromyelitis optica are two different diseases, with different pathogenesis, populations, clinical manifestations, ancillary findings, treatments, and prognoses. Optic neuromyelitis optica, like multiple sclerosis, is a rare disease. It is relatively common in Asian populations, such as China and Japan, in inflammatory demyelinating diseases of the central nervous system, and less common in Western populations in Europe and the United States. Optic neuromyelitis optica is characterized by two main sets of clinical symptoms: acute visual impairment and acute spinal cord injury. The age of onset of optic neuromyelitis optica is slightly later than that of multiple sclerosis, and the prevalence of the disease is higher in females, female:male = 9-10:1. What are the symptoms of NMO? Unlike multiple sclerosis, optic neuromyelitis optica mainly involves our optic nerves and spinal cord, therefore, the clinical manifestations are as follows: Visual symptoms: loss of vision, blurred vision, visual field defects, changes in color of vision, and even blindness. Spinal cord symptoms: paralysis of both lower limbs, quadriplegia, sensory abnormalities (sensory planes, fasciculations), urinary and fecal disorders, sexual dysfunction and painful spasms.