"Most people, when they get to empty, they have a reserve tank. But with MS you go to empty, you are on empty" - Ann Romney

When it comes to politics there is one thing that people can agree on - politics is a dirty, nasty sport.  The jabs, the name-calling, and the lies seem to get more vicious with each election.  You can always tell who the underdog is too because they‘re the first to call for “an end” to the fighting and then they trot out the perfect family.  Five years ago, Obama brought out Michelle and his two daughters and now Mitt Romney is using his wife Ann.  

Ann Romney has been described as her husband’s secret weapon because of her ability to connect with voters on the campaign trail.  She is the typical republican wife – college educated, very religious, with big blond hair, a big toothy smile, and she adores her husband.  Apparently, the feeling is mutual because Mitt Romney calls Ann “my sweetheart” and holds her hand every chance he gets, well at least in front of the cameras. And really, what is better than an adoring wife to help breathe life into a lackluster political campaign?  How about an adoring, sick wife?  

Yes, Ann Romney is very sick, she has multiple sclerosis.  In 1997, she began experiencing overwhelming fatigue, but as the mother of five boys, she thought that was just a normal part of raising a large family.  However, the fatigue soon led to numbness in her arms and legs, loss of balance, and blurred vision.  She eventually went to her doctor and after several appointments and many tests, she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. 

Ann said she was overwhelmed during the first year of her diagnosis and described what it’s like living with a chronic disease, “The disease is horrible.  Most people, when they get to empty, they have a reserve tank.  But with MS you go to empty, you are on empty, that's it, you are done and you literally collapse. You can't walk anymore, you can't talk anymore.  I didn’t know how I would care for my family.”  But she did, with the help of her husband who she calls “my rock.”

Current thinking contends that MS is a complicated autoimmune disorder in which the body's immune system attacks the myelin sheath.  However, the controversial ‘Zamboni theory’, popularly known as chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency (CCSVI), challenges this long-held concept and suggests that MS may be initially related to obstructive cerebral venous disease which subsequently sets the stage for myelin damage.

Myelin is the protective covering that surrounds the nerves in the brain and spinal cord. When the myelin sheath is damaged, the nerve impulses traveling to and from the brain and spinal cord are interrupted resulting in symptoms that can be mild, such as numbness in the limbs, or severe, such as paralysis and loss of vision.

According to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, MS affects over two million people worldwide. There are no symptoms, physical indicators or tests that by themselves, determine if a person has MS. Instead, doctors must use several methods to determine whether or not a person has the disease. These methods include a complete medical history, a neurological exam, MRI, nerve response tests, and a spinal fluid analysis.

MS is chronic and there is no cure, but the treatment options have improved.  In the past five years, eight new medications have been approved. These drugs block the immune system's attack on the brain and may prevent further damage and relapse. And there is the controversial liberation treatment for CCSVI. As for Ann Romney, she says she keeps her MS under control with a combination of traditional medicine and alternative therapies, such as reflexology, yoga, and horseback riding which help her maintain her balance and strengthen her muscles. 

Recently Ann has been campaigning hard for her husband, sometimes making 12 appearances a day, but the Romneys know that the key to Ann’s health is living a relatively stress free life.  So she often leaves her husband’s side to rest and relax away from the rigors of the campaign trail.  Where does she go?  To her California beach house where she keeps her horses.  Must be nice…

Stacy Matson, a health enthusiast from Southern California, regularly blogs on Celebrity Health for A Healthier World, as well as contributing to the Best of the Best.