Glossary
Glossary Tips & Tools
Anxiety

Persistent worry about major or minor concerns that interferes with daily activities, such as work, school or sleep. Anxiety can disrupt relationships and enjoyment of life, but can be managed by lifestyle changes, counselling and/or treatment. 

Chronic

Persisting for a long time or constantly recurring. Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic disease. Other examples of chronic diseases include cardiovascular disease and diabetes. 

Mindfulness

This is a mental state where your mind is fully focused on what’s happening, what you’re doing, the position of your body in relation to your surroundings. The idea is that by being fully present you may find it easier to relax and less likely to become distracted by any obsessive or anxious thoughts. 

Multiple sclerosis

A chronic autoimmune disorder that affects the central nervous system (CNS). In multiple sclerosis, inflammation attacks the myelin, and stops and/or limits the information transmission from nerves. 

Myelin (myelin sheath)

The protective layer around the nerve fibres in the central nervous system (CNS), which in MS, the immune system mistakenly attacks, causing inflammation. 

Nutrients

Nutrients is a general term for all of the components of food that the body needs to survive and grow. They include carbohydrates, fats, proteins, vitamins, minerals and water.

Relapse

The name for an event when new symptoms of relapsing-remitting MS appear, or when old symptoms return to the same or a new area of the body for a period of 24 hours or more. You might also hear relapses called flare-ups, exacerbations, attacks, worsening, acute episodes or clinical events. 

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