Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a motor neuron disease. It attacks the nerve cells that are used for involuntary muscle actions which are also known as motor neurons. There are actions that we can control, such as those in the legs, arms, and face. Motor neurons are present in the spinal cord and brain. As Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) progresses, these cells tend to degenerate and then eventually die. They stop sending messages to the muscles. The brain is, therefore, no longer able to control voluntary movements. Also, the muscles weaken and eventually waste away. Ultimately, Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) affects all the voluntary muscles. This means that the person affected no longer has control over their arms, legs, and face. Some people diagnosed with Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) manage to live more than ten years. However, most people with Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) live between three to five years after experiencing their first symptoms. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is said to affect between two to five people in every 100,000 in the world. The famous physicist Stephen Hawking was diagnosed with Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) during his youth. Now, being over 70 years of age, he is considered as one of the greatest scientists for his achievements.

A degenerative motor neuron disease, ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) destroys the healthy nerve cells and leads to permanent disability in its final stages. Often, it is also referred as the Lou Gehrig’s disease, after a celebrated baseball player who was diagnosed with it. Some of the common symptoms of ALS are muscle pain and stiffness, twitching, and weakness in muscles, difficulty in swallowing food, slurred speech, increased clumsiness, and poor posture due to the inability to hold the body, etc. As the condition progresses, the symptoms begin to worsen. It usually starts from the hands and limbs and then gradually spreads to the other parts of the body. Initially, the signs can be misinterpreted as a different problem; therefore, identifying it is not easy. Doctors will recommend one with a range of tests such as EMG (electromyography), NCS (nerve conduction study), MRI, blood and urine examination, etc. Unfortunately, currently ALS has no cure, but there are treatments available which will help the patient cope with the complications. These include medications, physical and speech therapy, breathing, and nutritional support. Risk factors of ALS The reason behind the occurrence of ALS is not entirely understood, as several aspects come into play such as immune response, chemical imbalance, gene mutation, etc.

The Amyotrophic lateral disease (ALS) also referred to as Lou Gehrig’s disease because it was the disease was first detected in Lou Gehrig, a famous baseball player back in 1830’s. It is a type of degenerative disease that targets the brain and spinal cord. ALS is a chronic condition that causes loss of control of voluntary muscle. People suffering from ALS symptoms and complications find difficulty with speech, swallowing, limb movements. There has been no cure found for it yet, unfortunately. Most of the ALS cases are sporadic, which means it occurs at irregular intervals. There are no specific causes of ALS. Researchers from across the country and around the world estimate that only 5 to 10 percent of the cases are due to genetic alteration. Some scientists believe that ALS could be due to free radical damage, an immune response that affects the functioning of motor neurons, the imbalance in the glutamate, a chemical messenger or a buildup of abnormal proteins inside the nerve cell. People aged between 50 to 60 usually begin to suffer from symptoms and complications of ALS. Symptoms and complications of ALS ALS is associated with the progressive loss of motor neurons. The symptoms of ALS depend on the area of the nervous system that is affected.

ALS or Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis is a disease that attacks the nerve cells in the spinal cord and brain. While ALS is tricky to diagnose at an early stage, it is essential that accurate diagnosis and treatment of ALS is done well in advance. Since most symptoms of ALS mimic other neurological diseases, identifying the condition requires prompt diagnosis. Early diagnosis and treatment of ALS can help cope with the disease more effectively. Some of the effective measures related to diagnosis and treatment of ALS have been listed below. EMG If you experience any abnormal muscular or speech issues, it is best you go for an Electromyogram (EMG). EMG is one of the most reliable methods for diagnosis that makes treatment of ALS more convenient. The procedure of the EMG test requires you to get needle electrodes inserted through your skin into different muscles so that the electrical activity of the muscles is evaluated. EMG enables doctors to identify any abnormalities in the muscles and promptly detect the condition. Nerve conduction study The nerve conduction study, as the name suggests, studies the ability of the nerves to send impulses to various muscles in the body. The test aims to determine any potential nerve or muscle damage.