Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a degenerative disease that creates inflammatory damage to the brain, spinal cord and optic nerves, and it affects nearly a million people in the U.S. “The brain and spine are involved in everything we do, from moving to seeing to our ability to think and so forth,” said Dr. Jason Poon, a psychiatry and neurology board-certified physician at EvergreenHealth. There are several risk factors for MS, including age, sex, genetics, geography, family history and potential exposure to certain viruses, such as Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV). The Pacific Northwest, specifically, has a high incidence of MS. Because MS can affect any part of the brain, there are different pathways and symptoms that can present themselves, including: Asymmetrical symptoms: numbness and tingling in one arm, vision changes in one eye, etc. Pinpoint symptoms: urinary incontinence, sharp pain down the spine while looking down, etc. Common symptoms that can are harder to diagnosis: fatigue, memory loss, speech problems. “It’s very important once you have these symptoms to seek evaluation with your primary care or emergency room,” Dr. Poon said. “They’re really our first line of defense in detecting multiple sclerosis.” The Multiple Sclerosis Center at EvergreenHealth, part of the Eastside Neuroscience Institute, works specifically with MS patients to confirm diagnosis, develop a treatment plan and provide support services. To confirm a diagnosis, a provider will look at your medical history, perform an exam and take an MRI of the brain and spine and bloodwork. A spinal tap may also be necessary in some cases. Managing MS is an ongoing process, and while there is no cure, there are treatments to minimize symptoms. “We have treatments that can slow down multiple sclerosis or we can treat the number of relapses patients have,” Dr. Poon said. The MS Center at EvergreenHealth offers support services like a physical therapist to work through muscle weakness, a psychologist to help with brain fog and adjusting to a diagnosis and a social worker. “Evergreenhealth has developed a network of doctors to be able to detect MS early,” Dr. Poon said. “MS patients are at the heart of everything we do.” To learn more about the MS Center at EvergreenHealth, visit the EvergreenHealth website. Sponsored by EvergreenHealth Segment Producer Joseph Suttner. Watch New Day Northwest 11 a.m. weekdays on KING 5 and streaming live on KING5.com. Contact New Day.