Receiving a diagnosis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is scary and overwhelming. Many people have only a basic knowledge of the condition: It's generally known that it is incurable and progressive. Whether it's you or a close loved one, it's so important to remember that no one can predict how the condition will affect day-to-day living. Furthermore, medical advancements have made it possible to enjoy a higher quality of life with the disorder and live with it for many years.
What Is ALS?
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is an uncommon disease with no definitive cause or cure. Sometimes called Lou Gehrig's disease after the famous baseball player who was stricken with it in the prime of his career, the disorder affects the way your body's motor neurons work. These nerve cells enable you to move your arms and legs, swallow, and perform other voluntary muscle functions.
The CDC estimates that amyotrophic lateral sclerosis currently affects about 12,000 people in the United States of all races and ethnicities. It is thought to occur at a rate of about four cases per 100,000 people, and it generally affects more men than women. Most people are first diagnosed between the ages of 40 and 60, but you can develop the disorder at any age.
Causes
The underlying disease process deprives motor neurons of vital nutrients. Eventually, this causes your motor neurons to degenerate and die. But why does this happen?
Thanks to ongoing research, scientists have identified a combination of gene mutations that cause perhaps 10 percent of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis cases. However, they remain puzzled by the fact that most cases of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis occur in people without these gene mutations. Researchers continue to look for the definitive cause of the disorder.
Symptoms, Treatments, and Prognosis
Because amyotrophic lateral sclerosis affects the motor neurons, which are responsible for controlling voluntary muscle movements, the disorder's first symptoms may involve subtle difficulties in moving hands, arms, or legs. You also may notice slight problems swallowing or changes in the pitch of your voice. But like many disorders, this one affects every person differently.
You will experience progressive muscle weakness throughout the body, which can occur over the course of three to 10 years or longer. Eventually, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis affects a person's ability to breathe.
While the disorder can't be cured, it can be managed with medications to extend and improve quality of life. One new medication, riluzole, has been shown to prolong life for several months. This medication also may allow you to live longer before requiring additional help with breathing.
People with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis often go from uncontrollable laughing to crying in the blink of an eye. Another medication, dextromethorphan combined with quinidine, helps smooth these abrupt emotional swings.
Tips for Living With ALS
No one can predict how amyotrophic lateral sclerosis will affect any individual person because the disorder's course is different for everyone. However, as the disease progresses, you undoubtedly will need to adapt your living situation to accommodate certain limitations. The Muscular Dystrophy Association offers a free, downloadable guidebook to help you live as well as possible with the disease. Called "Everyday Life With ALS: A Practical Guide," it offers these tips:
As researchers continue to investigate the causes of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and effective treatments, people are living longer than ever with the disorder. Through medication and the support of family and friends, you can face this disease with strength and vitality for many years.
If you'd like to contribute to the scientific body of knowledge surrounding this disorder, consider joining the National Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Registry. This database, administered by the CDC, collects information that you voluntarily provide to help scientists find the cause of ALS -- and possibly even discover a cure.
Going to the doctor can be stressful. Whether for a general exam or a specific health problem, there is often so much information to process that we don't think to ask questions during our visit or simply feel embarrassed to ask.
Read More Additional information about Dignity Health | 5 Questions Women Should Ask Their Primary Care Physician
It's important to remember that vitamins and supplements cannot take the place of a healthy diet. For example, pregnant women should eat multiple servings of fresh green vegetables and foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids. Higher doses of certain vitami...
Read More Additional information about Dignity Health | *
It's often said that breastfeeding is a full-time job. And in those first few weeks of motherhood, when it feels like you're feeding constantly, it certainly can be. But what happens a few months later when you have to go back to work?
Read More Additional information about Dignity Health | How to Make Breastfeeding for Working Moms Easy