Feature story

Feature Story
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), but known by most, simply as Lou Gehrig's disease. ALS is a disease that results in complete paralysis and death within two or three years after diagnosis. Doctors nationwide describe it as a rapid, progressive, and fatal disease that attacks the nerve cells. These nerve cells also called neutrons are responsible for giving humans the ability to control their muscles voluntary and are located in the brain and spinal cord that are vital communication links between the nervous system and the voluntary muscles of the body. ALS victims' upper and lower motor neurons will die, ceasing to send messages to muscles, causing their muscles to gradually weaken. In addition to the muscles weakening, the ability of the brain to start and control voluntary movement will also be lost. I believe that it is viable for all to learn the symptoms of ALS, what causes it, and how it is treated.
Some of the symptoms include: fatigue in the arms and legs, muscle cramps, and involuntary periods of laughing and crying. In addition, victims may lose the ability to control all voluntary movement and bladder. The initial symptoms include twitching, stiffness, and slurred speech. The parts of the body affected by early symptoms of ALS depend on which motor neurons in the body are damaged first. "My husband, Eric was diagnosed with ALS in 2009, weeks after our honeymoon. At first, we did not suspect anything, but he noticed a twitch in his arm.
Weeks later, Eric was complaining that he had loss strength in his left hand, so I took him to the doctor and they ran some tests. Days later, the doctor called us in and told us that Eric had ALS. The symptoms are terrible. He needs help doing everything. Even the basic things like tying his shoelaces and even putting toothpaste on his toothbrush", said Elizabeth Thomas.
Most people with ALS die from respiratory failure, usually within 3 to 5 years from the onset of symptoms. However, about 15 percent of ALS patients survive for 15 or more years. ALS does not affect a person's ability to see, smell, taste, hear, or recognize touch.
The cause of ALS is not known. However, through research, doctors now know that this disease is not common, and only 5 out 500,000 people are diagnosed with it each year. And most ALS patients appear to have inherited this disease through genetics.
First, you need to know that there is no cure for ALS; however there are many different ways that it can be treated. Doctors can offer patients medicine that will help reduce fatigue and ease muscle cramps. Next, physical therapy is offer to ALS victims. Physical therapy exercise, such as walking, swimming, and stationary bicycling, can help victims strengthen muscles, improve breathing, and fight off fatigue. Lastly, recent breakthroughs have resulted in Rilutek, a drug that modestly slows the progression of ALS.
ALS is also a costly disease - emotionally, physically and financially. And the best way for you to help is to donate to support excellent clinical care and research to help find a cure for this terrible disease. Like Lou Gehrig once said, "I might have had a tough break, but I have an awful lot to live for."