Multiple Sclerosis Symptoms: Early Warning Signs

Multiple sclerosis (MS) symptoms can be confusing — subtle, on-and-off, and easy to dismiss until you’re deep in “late night internet searches.” In this episode of Baptist Health Talk, host Sandra Peebles sits down with Dr. Luis Compres-Brugal, neurologist at Baptist Health Miami Neuroscience Institute, to break down the early warning signs of MS, why it’s often called “the disease of a hundred faces,” and what an MS diagnosis really involves. You’ll learn why there’s no single test for MS, what doctors look for on an MRI, and how relapses, fatigue, brain fog, and other “invisible symptoms” can impact daily life. Dr. Compres-Brugal also explains common misconceptions, risk factors, and how today’s treatments are changing outcomes. Watch now to get clear, real-world answers about multiple sclerosis. Host: Sandra Peebles Award-Winning Journalist Guest: Luis Compres-Brugal, M.D. Neurologist Baptist Health Miami Neuroscience Institute 0:00 Introduction 1:02 Early signs and warning symptoms of MS 2:15 Most concerning and life-altering symptoms 3:05 Differentiating normal fatigue from MS fatigue 3:52 How MS is diagnosed 5:02 Causes and risk factors of MS 5:55 When to see a doctor for symptoms 6:38 Conditions MS is often mistaken for 7:25 Role of MRI in diagnosis 8:05 Managing symptoms and disease progression 8:56 New treatments improving quality of life 10:07 What advanced MS can look like 11:18 Will MS always lead to disability 12:08 Life expectancy and mortality 12:17 Who is most affected by MS 12:59 High efficacy treatments explained 13:43 Flare-ups vs relapses 14:51 Can MS be prevented or cured 15:37 Why smoking worsens MS 16:04 Living a long, healthy life with MS