Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a long-term (chronic) neurological disease that affects the central nervous system, including the brain, optic nerve, and spinal cord. There are several types of MS. The most common type is called relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis. People with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis may have new or worse symptoms separated by periods of stability (remission).
Not everyone diagnosed with the disease has the same symptoms. So it can be difficult to diagnose, and there may be a delay in its diagnosis.
Hispanic People and MS
Several members of the medical community used to believe that Hispanic people in the United States weren’t affected by MS. But Hispanic people can get the disease, even though they are also less likely to get it compared with Black and White people.
Hispanic people:
- Are diagnosed at an earlier age
- Are more likely to have severe symptoms than people of other races or ethnicities
- Have an earlier start of certain symptoms, such as problems getting around and vision disorders
The Perceived Causes of MS
The barriers to care many Hispanic people in the United States face are caused by socioeconomic factors, such as lack of health insurance or low income. But some barriers to care can also be caused by cultural factors that lead to harmful behaviors.
For example, several Hispanic people in a clinical trial believed they were diagnosed with MS because of certain environmental, social, and cultural reasons. Here are some of those reasons:
- Being stressed about working two jobs and not having any time to rest and relax
- Having a poor diet
- Having to work outdoors in the sweltering heat
- Having had a big scare
- Getting hurt after a bad fall
- Feeling sadness after the death of a loved one
These perceptions can have a strong influence on a disease like MS. For example, people who see MS as an inevitable burden to bear for the rest of their lives might not bother getting medical treatment.
When people’s perception of a disease leads them to believe they have no control over their health, it can limit how much they use medical care. In this way, a cultural belief can stop someone from getting effective medical treatment. And so a disease such as MS can get worse quickly.
It’s important to highlight that the value Hispanic people place on a healthy diet and stress reduction suggests some cultural beliefs may benefit them. These cultural beliefs can help them manage their disease rather than harm them.
The Effect of Cultural Values
There are certain cultural values, such as dignity and respect, that can also become barriers to care. Some of the symptoms of MS can include vision loss, hearing loss, problems with memory, and problems with balance. For certain Hispanic people, it can be difficult to ask for help. Some Hispanic people may also see these types of symptoms as a weakness.
MS can also affect thinking skills, cause fatigue or tiredness, and cause loss of bladder and bowel control. Shame and a desire to preserve dignity can prevent someone from asking for help, whether from a loved one or a doctor who can give them effective treatment.
There are other cultural values that can also prevent certain Hispanic people from seeking medical help. These include:
Respect. For some Hispanic people, doctors are authority figures who should never be questioned. To them, simply asking a question is seen as impolite and disrespectful.
Religion. For many Hispanic people, religion (whatever it might be) can help them cope with a disease like MS. But some religious beliefs can lead to harmful behaviors. For example, someone might believe they have to suffer in silence, that someone has cursed them, or that God is punishing them. Someone with those types of thoughts might not get medical help.
The stigma of negative stereotypes. One of the symptoms of MS is fatigue. For many Hispanic people, it can be quite difficult to deal with fatigue because they don’t want to be seen as lazy.
MS is unpredictable, so it’s easy to understand how certain people can come to incorrect conclusions or make inaccurate assumptions that aren’t based on science. The symptoms of MS can remain dormant for many years.
For example, a young Hispanic woman was diagnosed with MS when she was 24 years old. When she was 11, she lost the use of one of her legs and was hospitalized. Doctors couldn’t figure out what was wrong. After a few weeks, she was able to use both legs again, as if nothing had happened. Some people have radical and sudden changes in major symptoms. In these cases, it’s easy to appreciate how a religious person might interpret the sudden improvement of a major symptom as a miracle.
Understanding Health Information
More education about MS is needed for Hispanic people. The medical community should take into account:
- The cultural values of Hispanic people
- The way Hispanic people perceive chronic diseases
- The way they, as care providers, perceive Hispanic people, remembering Hispanic people are not a monolith despite sharing some of the same cultural values
The medical community can tailor information about MS that includes the diverse values, concerns, and beliefs many Hispanic people have. It would be a much more effective outreach strategy because Hispanic people would see themselves reflected in the educational medical literature. And as a result, there might be a greater chance of reducing the risk of the disease getting worse.
At the same time, it’s important for doctors to tell their Hispanic patients about MS support groups and debunk certain myths about the disease that affect the entire community.
Show Sources
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SOURCES:
Health Psychology Open: “Illness perception and high readmission health outcomes.”
International Journal of MS Care: “Perceptions of Multiple Sclerosis in Hispanic Americans.”
Mayo Clinic: “Multiple sclerosis.”
Multiple Sclerosis Journal – Experimental, Translational and Clinical: “MS in self-identified Hispanic/Latino individuals living in the US.”
National Society of Multiple Sclerosis: “MS in the Hispanic/Latinx Community,” “Speaking the language of MS.”
