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Lou Gehrig's Disease
also known as ALS – Amyotrophic
Lateral Schlerosis
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), often referred to as "Lou Gehrig's
disease," is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and the spinal cord. Motor neurons
reach from the brain to the spinal cord and from the spinal cord to the muscles throughout the body. The progressive degeneration
of the motor neurons in ALS eventually lead to their death. When the motor neurons die, the ability of the brain to initiate
and control muscle movement is lost. With voluntary muscle action progressively affected, patients in the later stages of
the disease may become totally paralyzed. Yet, through it all, for the vast majority of people, their minds remain unaffected.
Signs and Symptoms:
- Weakness or clumsiness in the hands and feet
- Gradual loss of strength of the arms and legs
- Inability to control the use of the arms and legs
- Muscle twitches
- A stiff, clumsy walking style
- Difficulty swallowing, speaking, and breathing
- Fatigue
- Muscle cramps, especially at night, which may occur late in the course
of the disease
Links of Interest:
Recommended Reading:
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