The Full form of ALS

The full form of ALS is Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. It can be defined as a consistent development of the disease that affects the motor neural networks in the brain and the spinal cord, thereby subsidizing coordination between the muscles. ALS is also termed as Lou Gehrig’s disease, following the diagnosis of the baseball player. No cure has yet been found but supportive care tends to make the patient comfortable by improving the quality of life. It isn’t clear why ALS begins in a person, however, some cases are found to be inherited.

The symptoms vary among individuals because of the portion of the neurons being affected. Some signs that can help in primary diagnosis are walking difficulty, tripping and falling, clumsiness in hands and legs, muscle cramps, slurred speech, troubles in swallowing and cognitive-behavioral changes. ALS puts hurdles in performing normal activities throughout the day. It often begins at the hands or legs and gradually spreads over the body. 

With the progression of the disease, the nerve cells get weakened and damaged, resulting in weaker muscle coordination and control. This evidently affects the ability of the individual to chew, swallow, speak and breathe. However, ALS does not affect the senses of the sufferer.

Prolonged exposure to heavy environmental toxins such as some metals or chemicals, traumatic injuries, intense exertions during military service, toxic lifestyle choices such as heavy smoking or alcohol abuse, as well as, genetics in some cases, have been found out to be the cause of development of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis.

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