Do I have an higher risk than most people?

Im really really scared of getting multiple sclerosis because I seem to have a lot of risk factors. Ive looked up multiple sclerosis and it says that people who have it seem to have high antibodies to measels. My mum had measels really bad and nearly died as a child so I would have inherited antibodies off her plus I was vaccinated against measels as a child so that means Im likely to have jigh levels of antibodies against mealels right? Meaning in at higher risk for MS. Also there is an association between cows milk in infancy and MS..well I was totally formula fed so im at higher risk right? Also I had chickenpox which is also stated as a risk factor and was an older child (children whp lived with younger siblings are at lower risk)
Lastly I live in a cold climate but then so does everyone in the uk so not too worried about that.

Without sound liek a fool, Im just scared!

Reply 1

IzzyWizzy

10

No offence but it sounds like you're making a mountain out of a molehill - you're no more at risk than anyone else. Most people I know were formula fed, tons of people get the chickenpox in late childhood, and virtually everyone gets it at some point and like you said, everyone in the UK and plenty of other countries lives in a cold climate. You may be at risk for MS but not because of these factors which apply to virtually everyone!

Reply 2

Helenia

20

You inherit a small amount of antibodies from your mother, most of which are gone within a few months after birth. Almost everyone is vaccinated against measles, so again I hardly think you're at more risk.

As risks of diseases go, this is not one you need to concern yourself about.

Reply 3

bunthulhu

14

Please stop worrying! You have more chance of dying in a car crash! :s-smilie:

Reply 4

Anonymous #1

OP

K, it just seems a really nasty illness we were watching this documentary in college and it mentioned the riskd etc, I looked it up and most of the websites say the same thing.

Reply 5

*knowitall*

You know how when you read a horoscope or persoanlaity profile you think "wow - that's so true - that's me.."

Well looking up diseases is just the same...everyone thinks "wow - I've so got that..."

So whatever you read about you'll have - try to keep away from stuff like this and don't be a doctor or nurse - you'd be in a constant state of panic...

Reply 6

Jennybean

13

Helenia

You inherit a small amount of antibodies from your mother, most of which are gone within a few months after birth. Almost everyone is vaccinated against measles, so again I hardly think you're at more risk.

As risks of diseases go, this is not one you need to concern yourself about.

Wonder if you could help me out, Helenia. We did a group work thingy on MS, and we were told that a possible cause is an antibody reaction to a viral infection (of which measles is an example). The antibodies then start attacking the body's own cells so it's an autoimmune thing....if the OP had managed to inherit some antibodies from her mother, and been vaccinated for that matter, wouldn't that put her at a lower risk as the viral infection couldn't take hold in the first place? Although actually thinking about what you've already said, maybe it's kind of irrelevant as like you said the passive immunity only lasts as long as breastfeeding occurs...hmm... Anyway if you could explain that to me that would be brill. Thought you were a good person to ask!

Reply 7

chan89

1

My Grandad died of MS...I have no idea if it's hereditary and tbh it doesn't worry me. Life's too short to worry about 'what if's' so stop worrying!

Do I have an higher risk than most people?

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