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Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
is a nervous system disease that attacks
nerve cells known as neurons in your brain and
spinal cord. These neurons convey messages
from your brain and spinal cord to your voluntary muscles
- the ones you can control, such in your arms and legs.
At first, this causes mild muscle problems. Few people
notice
- Trouble walking or running
- Trouble writing
- Speech problems
Ultimately, you lose your strength
and cannot move. When muscles in your chest
fail, this leads to breathing problem. A ventilator
can help, but the majority people with ALS die from
respiratory failure.
The disease generally strikes between
age 40 and 60. More men than women get it.
No one knows what causes ALS. It can run in families,
but generally it strikes at random. There is no cure.
Medicines can relieve symptoms and, at times, prolong
survival.
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