Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

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What is Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis?

Lou Gehrig's Disease also called as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

But What is Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis?

"a" for without"myo" for muscle

"trophic" for nourishment"lateral" for side (of the spinal cord)"sclerosis" for hardening or scarring

•It’s a fatal disease of nervous system, characterized by progressive muscle weakness resulting in paralysis.

WHAT CAUSES ALS?

Causes:What causes ALS isn’t known, but according to some theories which states that:•Genetic Factor: 5 to 10% ALS cases are familial meaning that another person in the family has previously been diagnosed with the disease. -- 20% are linked to a mutation in the SOD1 gene -- Only a small amount is linked with mutant gene•Glutamate: which is responsible for transmitting many of the messages between nerve cells in the brain. When glutamate isn't removed from the spaces between the nerve cells (called synapses), it builds up and causes an overflow of calcium into motor neurons. This eventually leads to destruction of nerve cells.•environmental factors :such as heavy metal exposure leads to damage nerve.•Viral infections: are yet another factor that may play a role in the development of ALS.•Free Radicals: •Active chemical• can damage motor neuron

Some Facts about ALS

•Up to 7 out of every 100,00 people get ALS. Its more common in men then in

women, with symptoms usually appearing between the ages 50 and 75.• About 10% of people with ALS have a

family history of the disease life expectancy averages

Signs and Symptoms

Signs and SymptomsDysphagia: -- observed in children as well as adults -- Difficulty in swallowing food or liquid stuffWeakness in Muscles: --More than 60% patients who unknowingly suffer from ALS, show this symptom. --fatigue in the muscles of the arms and legs, muscle cramps, muscle pain, not being able to lift things or dropping them.Slurred SpeechLosing Control over Laughing and CryingMuscle CrampsLoss of BalanceOverall Weakness and FatigueBreathing difficulties

Signs and Symptoms

Bulbar Als Onset•Condition where the disorder strikes the tongue rather than limbs•Pons an medulla area of brain stem was known the pons or bulbar area of the brain•The nerves on the facial region that are connected with the bulb region of the brain controls Throat, jaw, tongue and face•Als disease causes the death of nerves of face or bulbar region and decreases functioning of motor neuron, resulting in spastic bulbar palsyQ) What are Bulbar ALS problems?1. Slurred speech2. difficulty in swallowing and chewing food

Signs and Symptoms

DDiddds

Diagnosis

When the muscles get progressively weaker, especially if a person's sensations aren't at all impaired, doctors will suspect ALS. A series of tests may be needed to rule out other potential causes for symptoms.

Electromyography(EMG):is used to determine whether the problem is in muscle or the nerve cells .This test works by measuring the electrical activity in the muscle

Nerve Conduction Velocity (NCV) Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI): scan of the

head or spine may be used to exclude other conditions that can damage or compress nerve cells such as tumors or degenerative disc disease.

The physician may order tests on blood and urine samples to eliminate the possibility of other diseases as well as routine laboratory tests

Average Life Expectancy Of Als Patient after it is Diagnosed??

Although the life expectancy of an ALS patient averages about two to five years from the time of diagnosis, this disease is variable and many people live with quality for five years and more. More than half of all patients live more than three years after diagnosis.

Most people with ALS survive only two to five years after diagnosis. Hawking, on the other hand, has lived more than 40 years since he learned he had the disease, which is also known as Lou Gehrig's Disease or ALS.

Treatment

Currently, there's no way to prevent or cure Lou Gehrig's disease, but a number of treatments are available to people with the disease. 1. Medicines can control symptoms, such as muscle cramping and difficulty

swallowing, and other drugs can slow the development of the disease.2. Physical therapy can help people with ALS cope with muscle loss and

breathing problems3. Special equipment is also provided when it becomes necessary. For

instance, a power wheelchair can enable a paralyzed person with ALS to get around. A machine called a ventilator can help a someone breathe.

4. Riluzole* is a medication that appears to prolong the life of some people with ALS by at least a few months. Riluzole seems to do two things: slow the release of glutamate from neurons and block its effects on glutamate receptors.

5. Vitamins that help to slow down ALS --- Vitamin B-1 --- Vitamin B-12 --- Vitamin C and Vitamin E

A nurse or other health assistant may come to the person's home to provide care that the family cannot handle alone.

A power wheelchair can enable a paralyzed person with ALS to get around. A machine called a ventilator can help someone to breathe.

• Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis is a mysterious disease• Neither an exact cause for the damage of neuron nor a specific

treatment found that can completely cure this disease • But there are some treatments available which can help to

decrease the intensity of early symptoms of ALS• But experts have not quite yet! research is still going on.

Thank You!