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(Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Having a pre-existing medical condition may mean a delayed diagnosis or increased severity at the time of diagnosis for people suffering from multiple sclerosis (MS).
According to new research, symptoms associated with conditions such as obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol may mask or be confused with symptoms of MS.
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Our study suggests that doctors who treat people with chronic diseases should not attribute new neurological symptoms such as numbness and tingling to existing conditions without careful consideration, study author Ruth Ann Marrie, M.D., Ph.D., researcher at the University of Manitoba in Winnipeg, Canada, was quoted as saying.
The study revealed it took one to 10 years longer for people who were obese, smoked or had physical or mental health conditions to be diagnosed with MS compared to those who had no such conditions. It was also noted that MS patients with more medical problems had an increased severity of the disease at the time of diagnosis.
Study authors concluded many of the pre-existing conditions that mask MS are common in United States and more healthcare resources may be necessary for patients to get a timely diagnosis.
SOURCE: Neurology, published online Oct. 29, 2008
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