Which risk factors for MS apply to you?

[doublevision1]

These are some of the main risk factors I come across again and again in the literature.  Some are well established, other theorized. Please check all that apply to you.

I didn't have enough options to add an "Other" category, so if you have any risk factors not listed here, please tell us what they are.

[HVAC]

Female gender

Northern European ancestry

Hx of infectious mononucleosis

Exposure to parental smoking
        

[Eyesnlegs]

Female gender = yes

Between age 20 – 40  = yes

Heredity/Family History of MS = no but my sister was dx about 18 months ago

Northern European ancestry = yes

Hx of infectious mononucleosis = no

Vitamin D deficiency = not as far as I am aware

Childhood in 'high risk' area (Europe, Canada, northern U.S., NZ & SE Australia) = yes

Hx of smoking/Exposure to parental smoking = yes to both

[Heather3418]

I voted twice....brain blurp...I didn't notice that this polll was started in December.  Please forgive me db

It seems that these polls do not keep accurate information and MedHelp needs to fix this.  I wish they would have a way to show the poll answers and places to put a check mark beside them, if they apply to you.  That would make it so much easier.

I AM sorry that I screwed up your poll, dearheart.  I just can't seem to get the knack of these polls, which should be easy.

Huggie Wuggies db,
Heather

[Heather3418]

Female gender
Between age 20 – 40 when symptoms began
Northern European ancestry
Childhood in 'high risk' area (Europe, Canada, northern U.S., NZ & SE Australia)
Hx of smoking/Exposure to parental smoking


Heather

[PastorDan]

Good poll.

Female gender  --  Well, no.

Between age 20 – 40 when symptoms began -- trying to decide which symptoms to count when.  Offhand, I'll say it's likely some of this started then, yes.

Heredity/Family History of MS  --  None of which I'm aware, but I'm not very informed on this.

Northern European ancestry -- Ireland on Mom's side, northern Germany on Dad's.

Hx of infectious mononucleosis -- No, this doesn't apply to me.

Vitamin D deficiency -- I really have no idea.  Bones seem okay, I guess.  I do seem to have Seasonal Affective Disorder, which is linked with sunlight, which is linked to Vitamin D.

Childhood in 'high risk' area (Europe, Canada, northern U.S., NZ & SE Australia)  Does Central Ohio count as "northern U.S.?"  Dad grew up in Cleveland, & his father's extended family was spread over Minnesota, Wisconsin, the Dakotas, and Ontario.

Hx of smoking/Exposure to parental smoking --  Guilty on both counts.  I smoked from age 15 to around 35, Dad was a light smoker all his life, and Mom was a heavy user.  First mother-in-law was the worst I've ever seen, though; six packs a day.

So, I think have about a third of them as yes, a third as no, and a third as hard to be sure.

[rendean]

Female gender
40 when "Official" symptoms began
Northern European ancestry -like buriedinfur I glow and am redheaded
Vitamin D deficiency- unsure but being tested
Hx of smoking/Exposure to parental smoking
Born in March