Socioeconomic impact – a diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis

“Breaking prejudice is a question of information”, explains a neurologist. Only the diagnosis of multiple sclerosis cannot determine the future of a person who wants to stay in the job market“

Agosto Laranja is the campaign that marks National Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Day (August 30). Research by the SESI Occupational Hygiene Innovation Center in 2019 states that 40% of Brazilians with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) are outside the formal job market. But can the disease determine the professional future of patients?

According to specialist Dr. Renata Faria Simm, a neurologist at the Imuno Brasil group, despite MS being considered a rare disease, it has a great social and financial impact on the world. In Brazil, it is the second cause of permanent neurological disability in people under 50 years of age.

In addition to symptoms such as fatigue and tiredness, carriers suffer prejudice. After all, how to understand the impact of multiple sclerosis in the work environment? First, managers need to be aware that not all patients are in the disabling stage of the disease, which depends a lot on early diagnosis and adequate treatment.According to Dr. Renata, some simple adaptations could prevent great talent from leaving the company, such as flexible working hours, breaks during working hours and a consolidated workload.

In this sense, according to the neurologist, what employers and employees need to know is:

• Only 30% of people with multiple sclerosis need care from others;
  
• With proper treatment, the chances of the patient developing the most severe forms of the disease drop significantly;
  
• The right to secrecy about your condition is constitutional;
  
• An ergometric work environment with adequate temperature (avoiding excess heat) helps to reduce the symptoms of pain and fatigue;
  
• Organization, planning and adequate treatment contribute to the depressive symptoms not getting worse, allowing tasks to be completed effectively;
  
• Practicing physical exercises regularly reduces fatigue in addition to helping in the treatment of the disease;- Maintaining a sleep routine is essential.

Adapting to some practices is crucial to the success of professional activities for people with MS, and to combating the prejudice that generates an economic impact on these people’s lives. Renata Faria Simm: Neurologist and coordinator of the Neurology field at Imuno Brasil and member of the Board of Directors at Cobra Reumatologia / Grupo Imuno Brasil.