Important Information About ALS Disease

You might have heard about ALS disease and have often wondered what it is. There is also this fear that you might also have it, especially if you are not well-informed about this particular disease. To learn more about ALS disease, here are some important information that you should know about it.

ALS disease or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is a neurodegenerative disease affecting the nerve cells of the brain and the spinal cord. It is often referred to as Lou Gehrig’s disease, named after the famous baseball player from the New York Yankees who was the first to be diagnosed with this disorder back in 1939. ALS disease is a progressive and fatal disorder, and the most common cause of death among ALS patients is respiratory failure and pneumonia which occurs in two to three years after diagnosis.

In the United States, statistics say that about 5,000 people are diagnosed with ALS disease every year. It is the most common type of neuromuscular disease that can affect anyone, whatever your ethnic background and race may be. Though it occurs mostly in people who are aged 40 to 60, younger people can also be afflicted with this disease. Up to this date, there is no known cause of ALS disease but researchers have identified some risk factors that predispose a person to having ALS. Those with a family history of ALS disease have the tendency to also have the disease, although it only occurs in about 5 to 10% of ALS cases. There are also environmental factors that can increase the incidence of ALS disease like prolonged exposure to BMAA which is a dietary toxin produced by a certain type of bacteria.

When the signs and symptoms of ALS disease are recognized at an early stage, treatment can begin immediately to slow down its progression. The hallmark initial symptom of ALS disease is muscle weakness which occurs in most patients who have this disease. Other signs and symptoms include twitching and muscle cramps, inability to use the upper and lower extremities and ‘think speech’ or the difficulty of projecting your voice. There will also be easy fatigability, constant dropping of things, tripping and slurred speech. As the disease progresses, there will be difficulty of breathing and swallowing, shortness of breath, dementia and paralysis.

The treatment of ALS disease is symptomatic, meaning the symptoms are the ones that are being addressed but not the disease itself. This is for the reason that there is no cure yet for ALS disease. Supportive care is what is encouraged for ALS patients, with the goal of improving the quality of life. Physical therapy, speech therapy, a diet that provides the nutrients needed without the hazards of choking and medications for sleep disturbances are among the treatment methods for ALS patients. One of the recent medications introduced for ALS disease is riluzole which helps in reducing the damage on motor neurons through decreasing the release of glutamate. Clinical trials have proven this to be an effective medication as it prolongs the survival of patients who have been using it.

With these pieces of information about ALS disease, you will be able to identify if a person is suffering from this disorder. This will guide you into seeking treatment as early as possible before the condition gets worse.