MS Awareness Week to educate

SPEARFISH Multiple sclerosis, commonly referred to as MS, is a chronic and often disabling the disease that attacks the central nervous system and eventually stops people from being able to move freely.

This week is MS Awareness Week is March 19-25 and is recognized nationwide to educate as many people as possible about the disease and what resources are available at the local level.

Today, more than 400,000 people are living with MS throughout the United States, and more than 200 people are diagnosed with the disease every week. In South Dakota, there is estimated 8,000 people living with the disease. Two-thirds of those patients are still able to walk, but they may need assistance such as a cane or crutches to move. In severe cases, the individual may have to use a scooter or wheelchair because to conserve energy.

Although the diagnosis can be devastating, it's still possible to live a productive lifestyle.

That's the outlook of Liz Haanstad of Spearfish who is the group leader of the MS Support Group of the Northern Hills, which meets at 10 a.m. every Friday of the month at the Spearfish Rec Center.

Haanstad was diagnosed in 1985 when she was only 37 years old.

I do what I can to stay active and truly believe that this is something that we can live with but you have to manage it, she said. Sure MS can limit what you can do, but only if you let it, Haanstad said.

As far as managing the disease, Haanstad said the first thing a newly diagnosed individual needs to do is find a good neurologist and get on medication. She's takes a medication known as Abonex, which delays the progression of the disease and there are others.

That's the main reason I'm able to live as normal of a life that you can with the disease, she said.

The second most important thing people need to do is find a support group.

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MS Awareness Week to educate