Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis also known as, ALS or Lou Gehrig’s disease, is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. Breaking down the disease into Greek language “A” means no, “Myo” refers to one’s muscles, and “Trophic means no nourishment to the muscles. Lateral identifies the part of the person’s spinal cord where the nerve cells that report to and control muscles are located and Sclerosis means scarring. These translations give people a better understanding of what ALS affects. ALS affects the motor neurons in the spinal cord and brain which means that Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis affects the neuromuscular system of the body. ALS affects the muscles in the body and eventually the
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However, about 10 percent of those with ALS survive for 10 or more years” (U.S National Library of Medicine). ALS is a very fatal and painful disease to go through. As I stated previously, ALS affects the upper and lower motor neurons that send signals to the brain to move the voluntary muscles in a person’s body. Both the upper and lower motor neurons die off and stop sending signals to the muscles which then are unable to move. Without moving your muscles, eventually they start to weaken and have twitches from the loss in strength. In time, the motor neurons will completely degenerate, the signals will stop going through the body and the brain will lose control to the movement of the muscle which leads to loss of movement. When the person starts to lose movement in their limbs that is the time they should be under heavy attention because losing their ability to move means they cannot use their arms or legs. That also means the person need assistance going to the bathroom, eating and other everyday tasks. Over time, the muscles in the diaphragm and chest wall will fail to work and the person will need to use a ventilator to breathe and stay alive. The person with ALS will either not have time to get a ventilator and pass away from respiratory failure or have to stop the ventilator and pass
However, about 10 percent of those with ALS survive for 10 or more years” (U.S National Library of Medicine). ALS is a very fatal and painful disease to go through. As I stated previously, ALS affects the upper and lower motor neurons that send signals to the brain to move the voluntary muscles in a person’s body. Both the upper and lower motor neurons die off and stop sending signals to the muscles which then are unable to move. Without moving your muscles, eventually they start to weaken and have twitches from the loss in strength. In time, the motor neurons will completely degenerate, the signals will stop going through the body and the brain will lose control to the movement of the muscle which leads to loss of movement. When the person starts to lose movement in their limbs that is the time they should be under heavy attention because losing their ability to move means they cannot use their arms or legs. That also means the person need assistance going to the bathroom, eating and other everyday tasks. Over time, the muscles in the diaphragm and chest wall will fail to work and the person will need to use a ventilator to breathe and stay alive. The person with ALS will either not have time to get a ventilator and pass away from respiratory failure or have to stop the ventilator and pass