ALS belongs to a group of diseases called motor neuron diseases. It is a disease that attacks the nerve cells that are used in voluntary muscle actions; actions that we can control such as those in the arms face and legs.
It is usually diagnosed in people aged over 40. The condition is characterised by the progressive dysfunction of nerve cells that control movement in the brain and spinal cord. As a result those affected develop a range of severe symptoms associated with defective movement. ALS has a significant impact on life expectancy. In half of those affected life expectancy is reduced to around 3 years. If you think you are experiencing symptoms associated with ALS please see a neurologist or GP. Despite the poor prognosis a great deal of help is available both in ameliorating some of the symptoms and supporting ALS patients emotionally.There are however many examples of people living for much longer however. After ALS diagnosis around 20% of people will live five years or more 10% will live for 10 years or more and 5% will live for a further 20 years.
ALS is the most common type of motor neuron disease (MND); in the INDIA most people use the term ALS to mean MND. In the majority of patients the first symptoms occur in the arms or legs including weak grip and weakness of the shoulder ankle and hip. Other initial symptoms include difficulties with swallowing slurred speech and difficulty breathing due to defective respiratory muscles. These symptoms are ‘non-specific’ as they are indicators of several different diseases not just ALS.
ALS is the most common type of motor neuron disease (MND); in the INDIA most people use the term ALS to mean MND. In the majority of patients the first symptoms occur in the arms or legs including weak grip and weakness of the shoulder ankle and hip. Other initial symptoms include difficulties with swallowing slurred speech and difficulty breathing due to defective respiratory muscles. These symptoms are ‘non-specific’ as they are indicators of several different diseases not just ALS.
Currently experts do not know precisely what causes ALS. It can affect anyone regardless of gender race ethnicity or geographical location. There are two types of ALS: sporadic (randomly occurring) and familial.
Environmental and lifestyle factors likely play a role in the development of ALS but no conclusive evidence is available to support making specific changes to decrease the risk of the disease. ALS occurs when special nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord known as motor neurons progressively stop working. Despite immense research into the area it is still unclear why this occurs. In a minority of patients the disease is totally hereditary; this is known as ‘familial ALS.’ However in the majority of people suffering from ALS the disease is thought to be cause by a mixture of genetic predisposing factors and environmental factors.
No cure has yet been found for ALS. However the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the first drug treatment for the disease -- riluzole (Rilutek). Riluzole is believed to reduce damage to motor neurons by decreasing the release of glutamate. Clinical trials with ALS patients showed that riluzole prolongs survival by several months mainly in those with difficulty swallowing. The drug also extends the time before a patient needs ventilation support. Riluzole does not reverse the damage already done to motor neurons and patients taking the drug must be monitored for liver damage and other possible side effects. However this first disease-specific therapy offers hope that the progression of ALS may one day be slowed by new medications or combinations of drugs.
To manage problems with speech a speech and language therapist may be helpful in the initial stages and a communication aid might be useful in the latter stages. Swallowing difficulties are frequently managed using a percutaneous endoscopic gastronomy tube which is implanted into your stomach though a small cut in the skin. As breathing difficulties are a major problem non-invasive mechanical ventilation is used towards the later stages of the disease. This involves room air being pumped gently into the lungs though a mask or nasal tube.
This article is for information only and should not be used for the diagnosis or treatment of medical conditions. Doctors Catalog has used all reasonable care in compiling the information but makes no warranty as to its accuracy. Consult a doctor or other health care professional for diagnosis and treatment of medical conditions. In the event of an emergency, please call 108 for immediate assistance.
