After Christina Applegate made a joke about her health condition at the Emmys, it's important to keep a look out for any early symptoms.
The Dead To Me actor was clearly overwhelmed when she took to the stage with a cane to present the first Emmy Award at the Peacock Theatre in Los Angeles, last night (15 January)
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The 52-year-old - who is known for her roles in Married…With Children and Samantha Who? - was accompanied by host Anthony Anderson to present the first award of the night - 'Supporting Actress in a Comedy' - which went to Ayo Edebiri for The Bear.
When the audience got up out their seats to cheer, the actor joked that, by standing up, the crowd was making fun of her multiple sclerosis (MS) disability.
She said: "Thank you so much," before joking: "Oh my god, you're totally shaming me with disability by standing up. It's fine."
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In an interview last year, Applegate opened up about her battle with MS and said: “It’s never a good day.”
She told Good Morning America: “You can fall, you can slip, your legs can buckle,” she said. “There are just certain things that people take for granted in their lives that I took for granted. Going down the stairs, carrying things — you can’t do that anymore.”
Now, according to the NHS: "Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a condition that can affect the brain and spinal cord, causing a wide range of potential symptoms, including problems with vision, arm or leg movement, sensation or balance.
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"It's a lifelong condition that can sometimes cause serious disability, although it can occasionally be mild.
"In many cases, it's possible to treat symptoms. Average life expectancy is slightly reduced for people with MS.
"It's most commonly diagnosed in people in their 20s, 30s and 40s although it can develop at any age.
"It's about 2 to 3 times more common in women than men. MS is one of the most common causes of disability in younger adults."
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Dr. Paige Sutton, a neurologist specialising in neuroimmunology and multiple sclerosis for OhioHealth, has since revealed the warning signs to look out for.
"In people who have multiple sclerosis, it is most important to look for signs of a new inflammatory relapse," she told Healthline.
"Relapses are typically very obvious and would include new neurologic symptoms that are constant and last for more than 24 hours.
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"Symptoms could include loss of vision/blurry vision in one eye, unilateral facial pain or numbness, vertigo, new weakness or sensory changes on one side or in both legs, or with walking."
The doctor said if a 'pseudo-relapse' - when symptoms worsen - takes place, patients should 'notify their health provider for any new symptoms'.
Topics: Celebrity, Health, TV and Film, Christina Applegate
Anish Vij