Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as motor neuron disease or Lou Gehrig's disease highly affects the elderly, mainly in men. About 15 new cases are reported daily, mostly Caucasian Americans. This condition affects the brain networks motor neuron in charge of voluntary muscle movement in the mouth, throat, chest, arms, and legs.
If you are affected by a nerve or brain condition, seek advanced health care services from leading specialists in the field. In Pasadena ALS health care services are at Hospice and Palliative Care of California. To learn more about ALS, contact Sabri Malek, MD, and the caregiving team via a call to the office in Pasadena or book an appointment through the online tool today.
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)
ALS is a degenerative condition that is progressive and causes the destruction of nerve cells that manage voluntary muscle movements. "Motor neuron" cells connect the brain to the muscle they control, like the mouth, leg, throat, and chest through the spinal cord. In ALS patients, the motor neurons die, causing the muscles to waste away due to prolonged muscle inactivity. However, the mental faculties or sensory functions like sensory neurons remain healthy and unaffected.
ALS Categories
ALS can be classified into two categories:
· Lower Motor Neuron Disease - Affects the nerves that emanate from the brainstem or spinal cord.
· Upper Motor Neuron Disease - Affects the brain nerves.
In the above instance, ALS's fatality is damage to motor neurons that die at the end. At the moment, no known treatment or cure can either stop motor neurons from damaging or from their death.
A complex interaction theory centers the cause of ALS to be between environmental and genetic factors. Nevertheless, the risk factors that have been established include the following.
Environmental factors such as:
1. Exposure To Environmental Toxins – It is suggested that exposure to lead could be associated with ALS.
2. Service In The Military – While in turn, the military servants are likely to be exposed to traumatic injuries, intense exertion, viral infections, chemicals, or metals, making veterans prone to develop ALS.
3. Smoking – This is the most likely environmental cause for ALS, significantly affecting women, especially after menopause.
Genetic factors include:
1. Gender – Slightly a higher number of men than women develop ALS below 65, but the age difference dissipates after age 70.
2. Heredity – 5 to 10 percent of ALS patients have inherited the disease, and their children have a 50 to 50 chance of getting the disease. In this case, it is referred to as familial ALS.
3. Genetics – Studies on the human genome posit that some people with non-inherited ALS and people with ALS have genetic variation similarities. People are susceptible to ALS due to these genetic variations.
ALS Symptoms
Each individual living with ALS encounters different death proportions of the lower and upper motor neurons, causing variation in symptoms from one person to the next. In the early stages, you might overlook the signs because they are minor. However, there are common symptoms like cramping or twitching in hand muscles, muscle weakness in the hands, slow speech, arms, and legs impairment.
ALS Treatment
Treatment for ALS includes physical therapy, speech therapy, prescription medication, respiratory and nutrition support.
In later stages, one succumbs to difficulty in swallowing and breathing. Therefore, it is essential to call or book an appointment through the online tool today.
