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Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disorder that showcases how violent the human body can be when it turns on itself. With multiple sclerosis, the body’s immune system eats away at the protective covering that envelops the nerves, interfering with communication between the nerves and the brain and eventually leading to degeneration of the nerves themselves. The process MS follows is irreversible. There’s no cure, but treatment can lessen the severity of the attacks.

Multiple sclerosis may be difficult to diagnose in the early stages because symptoms tend to come and go, often not resurfacing for months. Symptoms also vary greatly; they may include numbness or tingling in the arms and legs, partial or complete loss of vision, double vision or blurred vision, fatigue, dizziness, and electric shock-type sensations that occur when the head is moved in a certain way. In the most severe cases, people lose the ability to walk or talk.

MS tends to occur in women twice as often as in men, and it’s typically diagnosed in people between the ages of 20 and 40. If a member of your family has MS, you have a 1 to 3 percent chance of inheriting the disease. Caucasians whose families originated in northern Europe are at greater risk.

Here are several things you can do at home to relieve the symptoms of multiple sclerosis:

 Cool down. Multiple sclerosis symptoms tend to flare up when your body temperature rises. Try taking a cool bath to bring your temperature back down.

 Get plenty of rest. Fatigue is a common symptom, and getting rest can help you feel better.

 Exercise. Keeping active with mild aerobic exercise helps build strength and muscle coordination if you have mild to moderate MS.

 Watch your diet. Researchers believe multiple sclerosis is an autoimmune disorder caused by inflammation, so look for anti-inflammatory foods.