PRESENTATION OUTLINE
What is AlS?
AlS is a neurological disease that starts with muscle weakness, and ends with death.
Characteristics of ALS:
Trouble lifting feet and toes,weakness in legs, feet, and hands.Clumsiness, slurred speech, trouble swallowing, cramping of muscles.
Diagnosis of ALS:
Blood, urine, and thyroid tests.Muscle or nerve biopsy, spinal tap, MRI,x-Ray,and an EMG.
Who is at Risk the most:
People whose genetic family members have had the disease. Ages 40+, and slightly more men than women. Smoking, lead exposure, and military service.
Treatment:
Breathing therapy, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, nutritional , psychological, and social support. The drug riluzole.
Quality of Life:
Despite the severity of the disease, only 10 percent of ALS patients are depressed .
Life Expectancy:
Normal is two too five years, but many people live years longer.
How a person gets ALS?
In 90 percent of the cases the cause is unclear; however, in roughly 10 percent of the cases, a gene mutation is clear.
Other Interesting Facts:
The diagnosis of ALS is roughly 2/1000 people, and about 5600 people contract the disease yearly in the U.S.