Guidelines

What is the effect of ALS?

What is the effect of ALS?

ALS affects the nerve cells that control voluntary muscle movements such as walking and talking (motor neurons). ALS causes the motor neurons to gradually deteriorate, and then die. Motor neurons extend from the brain to the spinal cord to muscles throughout the body.

How does ALS affect your life?

The progressive degeneration of the motor neurons in ALS eventually leads to their demise. When the motor neurons die, the ability of the brain to initiate and control muscle movement is lost. With voluntary muscle action progressively affected, people may lose the ability to speak, eat, move and breathe.

What challenges do people with ALS face?

ALS symptoms include difficulty with muscle control, such as during writing or chewing. Eventually, people with ALS lose the ability to walk, swallow and even breathe. But ALS treatments such as medication and therapy can help people with ALS live as long and independently as possible.

What are four complications of ALS?

Complications of ALS include:

  • Breathing in food or fluid (aspiration)
  • Loss of ability to care for self.
  • Lung failure.
  • Pneumonia.
  • Pressure sores.
  • Weight loss.

What part of the brain is affected in ALS?

Summary: Medical researchers demonstrate that ALS — known as Lou Gehrig’s disease — damages neurons in parts of the brain responsible for cognition and behavior. The scientists provide evidence that ALS affects more than just the motor cortex, the part of the brain responsible for motor function.

What is ALS experience?

However, all people with ALS will experience progressive muscle weakness and paralysis. In the early stages of ALS, the symptoms may be so minor that they are overlooked. Common symptoms include: Weakness in muscles of the hands, arms or legs. Impairment in the use of arms and legs.

What were your first ALS symptoms?

Early symptoms include:

  • Muscle twitches in the arm, leg, shoulder, or tongue.
  • Muscle cramps.
  • Tight and stiff muscles (spasticity)
  • Muscle weakness affecting an arm, a leg, the neck, or diaphragm.
  • Slurred and nasal speech.
  • Difficulty chewing or swallowing.

Does ALS affect decision making?

The presentation of ALS varies from person to person. Some people with ALS will never develop changes in thinking or behavior. For others with ALS, there will be mild changes in how they think or behave but they are still able to function independently and make informed decisions about their care.

What is ALS and could it affect you?

ALS, also called Lou Gehrig’s disease, is a disease that affects your motor neurons. These are nerves in your brain and spinal cord that direct your muscles to contract so you can walk, talk, eat,…

What are the side effects of ALS?

dizziness,weakness;

  • numbness or tingling around your mouth;
  • stomach pain,nausea;
  • breathing problems; or
  • high blood pressure–severe headache,blurred vision,pounding in your neck or ears.

    • Does ALS affect the heart muscle?

    ALS doesn’t directly affect involuntary muscles, so the heart, digestive tract, bladder and sexual organs continue to work. Hearing, vision, touch and intellectual ability generally remain normal. Pain is not a major component of ALS.