Is multiple sclerosis fatal?

Research suggests that the overall life expectancy of someone with MS is only slightly lower than the general population, that is, their life expectancy is reduced by about 6 to 11 years compared to the general population. This begs the question, is multiple sclerosis fatal? Since the 1960s increase in life expectancy for people with multiple sclerosis has grown more rapidly than in the general population also improved healthcare for people with severe multiple sclerosis has been effective in reducing premature death.

Multiple sclerosis is complex and it is impossible to predict how you may be affected over time since there are no clinically established and laboratory-tested investigations to predict the outcome of most cases of multiple sclerosis accurately.

Symptoms generally progress along a path depending on the type of multiple sclerosis you are diagnosed with, whether it is benign, relapsing-remitting, primary progressive or secondary MS. Irrespective of type, symptoms usually become a constant feature without any great regression or progression for most MS sufferers and after 10 years from the first episode of symptoms, about 50% of the people with MS have developed some form of permanent disability whilst after 15 years, about 50% are unable to walk without assistance. But, about half are still walking independently. After 25 years, about half are confined to a wheelchair. But, about half are not.

This suggests that the common belief that all people with MS will quickly become wheelchair bound is a myth. However, as with other disabling conditions, if you become immobile due to MS then you have more risk of developing life threatening infections such as pneumonia. Yet again the question, is multiple sclerosis fatal must be asked.

Many MS sufferers may only be unable to write, read, walk, or speak because of their symptoms. However in some cases multiple sclerosis patients have been known to develop severe symptoms such as swallowing difficulties leading to choking, numerous chest infections and breathing difficulties and succumb to the disease within weeks. Others have been known to die within five years due to numerous complications caused by the development of symptoms similar to those above. Multiple sclerosis can cause in some extremely rare cases paralysis, blindness and sometimes premature death due to accidents as MS changes the way you experience temperature distorting the feeling that would normally tell you when something is too hot or too cold. Irrespective of the severity of symptoms the reality is that death only really occurs directly as a result of MS thereby answering the original question, is multiple sclerosis fatal.