What is Multiple Sclerosis? Multiple Sclerosis is a disease in which the body’s immune system attacks the central nervous system causing damage to the myelin or the electrical insulation sheath of neurons. A neuron has the capability of converting information into electrochemical signals that are sent through the central nervous system.

Neurons fire the body to action in response to stimuli and if the neurons are destroyed or lost, the central nervous system cannot function and send information to the body parts to act. Unfortunately neurons cannot be replaced. When signaling stops, the nerves affected cannot function and this causes impairment of sensation, difficulties in movement, blurring of eyesight, slurred speech and a host of other issues depending upon which organ is affected.

Symptoms of Multiple Sclerosis

The symptoms of Multiple Sclerosis are quite mild and almost normal to any disease which may appear manageable without a doctor. It is only when the disease progresses and is diagnosed, that the symptoms of multiple sclerosis appear more prominent. Loss of sensation, weak limb movement, blurred vision, difficulties in speech and swallowing, difficulty in maintaining balance are some of the most common symptoms of multiple sclerosis.

Causes of Multiple Sclerosis

Till date, no definite causes of multiple sclerosis have been located. Research has progressed in different directions often pointing to the genetic causes which include the possibility of transmission of the disease from the parent to the sibling and from families having a known history of Multiple Sclerosis to their progeny.

However, no conclusive proof has so far been established. There is also an environmental angle to the causes of multiple sclerosis. One school of thought has been researching the occurrence of the disease amongst people living with a population having a large incidence of the disease. Scientists have also tried to establish the viral infection theory of the disease. It is believed that the Human Herpes virus has been found to exist at significant levels in the cerebrospinal fluid of persons suffering from Multiple Sclerosis.

Apart from the pathological findings, it has also been researched that people who live farther away from the equator and who have lesser exposure to sunlight have a greater risk of the disease. Insufficient absorption of Vitamin D in the skin is said to be one of the contributing factors of the disease. Continuous association with an environment having harmful toxins released in the atmosphere is also said to lead to Multiple Sclerosis while some researchers argue that continued smoking and the resultant damage to the lungs may also contribute to the occurrence of the disease.

Stress and associated trauma is also one of the studied causes of multiple sclerosis according to many researchers. However, no evidence or truth has so far been established in any of the causes mentioned above as being the sole contributing factor to the occurrence and the spread of the disease. This has hampered research in its core long term treatment and finding out the preventive factors which could help in the development of a specific treatment course which unfortunately does not exist at present.

What is Insomnia? Insomnia is a sleep disorder which results in sleeplessness. There are three types of insomnia. Mild insomnia is a state in which there are sporadic short duration sleep disorders and does not last longer than a few days. The second type of insomnia is the acute insomnia in which the sleep disorder lasts for a longer period often over a period of several weeks. The last type of insomnia is the chronic insomnia where the patient has been suffering from the disorder for a long time sometimes spread over a period of months or years.

Symptoms of Insomnia

Some of the major symptoms of insomnia are the following:

• Difficulty falling asleep,
• Awakening in the middle of being asleep,
• Difficulty in returning back to sleep after suddenly getting awake,
• Continuously changing shifts that is difficult for the body to get accustomed to,
• Stressful conditions at work and home,
• Depression and related issues,
• Denying the body sleep when sleep is required,
• Working for long hours in jobs requiring constant alertness,
• Poor concentration and focus and
• Worrying about something emotional.

Most of the symptoms of insomnia are related to the environment or society in which the person lives, though there are some which are medication related where the person is required to take drugs to keep him awake.

What Causes Insomnia?

There are various causes for insomnia, though it is believed that the underlying medical conditions are the most important of all causes. However, chronic insomnia may also be a job related issue like constantly changing shifts and situations requiring the person to be ever alert on duty. People serving the military in most cases, exclusively those posted in difficult terrain and strategic locations vulnerable to enemy disturbances are reported to severely suffer from insomnia.

Apart from work related causes, insomnia is also the outcome of habitual consumption of alcohol, hallucinating drugs, decongestants, weight loss drugs and caffeine, nicotine and cocaine.

Treatment of Insomnia

There are some widely used medicines that go in the treatment of insomnia. However, most of these are habit forming drugs like benzodiazepines may cause severe side effects like depression and anxiety which may go against the purpose of the treatment of insomnia. Most doctors prescribe polysomnography and actigraphy, which involve an overnight sleeping test that studies the sleep pattern and the sleep behavior of the patient. This helps the doctor to understand the patient’s requirement better and accordingly prescribe a detailed therapy.

Most of the therapies advised by medical experts on insomnia are cognitive in nature and some are also stimulus based. Doctors prescribe going to bed only when feeling sleepy, not watching the television, not to have day time naps and to wake up with the help of an alarm clock even in weekends so that the patient gets accustomed to a fixed pattern of sleeping. Many also prescribe a walk after dinner or supper to lighten up the day’s load of worries and listening to music which acts as an excellent nerve relaxant too. Unwinding is an important part of the treatment to this problem.

Lyme disease in the dogs is caused due to the bite of the tick. The bacteria responsible for this disease are named as Borrelia Burgdorferi. These bacteria when viewed under the microscope have a coiled shape. The ticks that cause the Lyme disease in the dogs are actually the carriers of this disease and then transmit in the dogs. There are three types of tick carriers. Most of the dogs are bitten by the tiny Deer Tick which is also known as the Black-Legged tick.

The deer tick is a microscopic parasite. The main hosts of this disease are the white feet mice and deer with white tail. The tick gets attached to the body of the mice or the deer when it is found in the areas of woods or in the areas of plants. The ticks just sit on the body of the hosts and wait for the host to carry them.

The dogs can be attacked by the ticks on any portion of the body. Usually, the ticks get attached to the ears, feet, neck or head portion of the dog. The tick bites does not give any pain; they are just like a bee sting. The dog does not get any distress when the tick bites.

Symptoms of Lyme Disease

The Lyme disease is usually found in the northern and western parts of United States where there is more population of the ticks.

One of the symptoms of Lyme disease found in the dogs is the high temperature of the dog. He can show restless behavior or sometimes walk lamely. Some other symptoms found in the dogs are swelling in the joint, pain and warmth. There can be some sore areas under the dog’s coat. This is the place where the tick would have bitten the dog.

Therefore, try to keep a habit of doing regular check up of the dog’s skin. If any of the symptoms of Lyme disease are found, then make proper treatment of the dog.

Treatment for Lyme Disease

If you are able to find any symptoms regarding the Lyme disease, then immediately consult the vet doctor. The vet can diagnose the dog and can provide proper treatment of Lyme disease. If this disease is found in the initial stage, then the doctor can give antibiotics like Tetracycline as the treatment of Lyme disease. This medicine is very helpful in preventing this disease in dogs. If the dog is suffering from high pain, then the vet can give aspirin for relief.

You should not remain careless with this matter because this disease can spread to you also and the dog can suffer from much higher risks in the later stages. The consequences of the Lyme disease can be very severe if the disease is left untreated. As the effect of this disease increases in the dog’s body, he can get paralysis in his limbs. This disease can be spread from the front and back limbs to the chest muscles which will create problem of breathing.