ALS
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis is a progressive disorder that is inherited or acquired. It affects motor neurons. Motor neurons are cells that are in the brain, brain stem and spinal cord and their function is to carry an electrical signal to a muscle and trigger it to contract or relax. Medical terminology, a means without, my is muscle and trophic is nourishment. Lateral is pertaining to the side/direction that is affected and sclerosis is an abnormal condition of hardening. It was originally discovered in 1969 by Pathologist Jean-Martin Charcot, but because Lou Gehrig was known nationally for baseball and this disease caused him to retire, the world didn’t recognize it until the 1930’s. ALS is also referred to Lou Gehrig’s disease and …show more content…
“Physicians obtain the patient's full medical history and usually conduct a neurologic examination at regular intervals to assess whether symptoms such as muscle weakness, atrophy of muscles, hyperreflexia, and spasticity are getting progressively worse.” (http://www.alsa.org/about-als/what-is-als.html?referrer=http://www.alsa.org/about-als/symptoms.html?referrer=https://www.google.com/) There are tests a physician can run to see if a person has ALS. Electro diagnostic tests like, electromyography (EMG), which measure your nerve signals and muscle response or nerve conduction velocity (NCV), which sends an electric shock to the nerves to stimulate and see how fast the nerve reacts. A physician can run blood and urine samples like, high resolution serum protein electrophoresis, thyroid and parathyroid hormone levels and 24-hour urine collection for heavy metals. A spinal tap, X-rays including an MRI, myelogram of cervical spine, muscle and/or nerve biopsy and a neurological examination all are tests a physician can run to test or rule out ALS. “These tests are done at the discretion of the physician, usually based on the results of other diagnostic tests and the physical examination. There are several diseases that have some of the same symptoms as ALS and most of these conditions are treatable. It is for this reason that The ALS Association recommends …show more content…
Because it is a life threating and irreversible disease, there is nothing that will take away the symptoms, but there are treatments to provide comfort and to try and slow down the progression of the disease. There are ways with medicine to help with some symptoms like drooling which can lead to choking and cough. There are medications that can help with pain, cramps and spasms. There are also medications to help treat fatigue. The drug Riluzole is the only medication that has been approved by the FDA for ALS. There are therapies to help with breathing, speech and movement. Physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy and breathing care. They have nutritionists and psychological and social support for those who need it. Over time you will have difficulty breathing and breathing care will help by providing with devices to assist their breathing. Physical therapy will help maintain your independence. A physical therapist will help with pain and mobility. Occupational therapy can help with muscle weakness and show exercises to do to help perform daily activities like eating, bathing and dressing. They can also help the person modify their home to become more accessible. Speech therapists can help them explore other methods of communication. Nutritionists can help a person make sure the food is able to be consumed or talk about a feeding tube. Psychological and social support
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis is a progressive disorder that is inherited or acquired. It affects motor neurons. Motor neurons are cells that are in the brain, brain stem and spinal cord and their function is to carry an electrical signal to a muscle and trigger it to contract or relax. Medical terminology, a means without, my is muscle and trophic is nourishment. Lateral is pertaining to the side/direction that is affected and sclerosis is an abnormal condition of hardening. It was originally discovered in 1969 by Pathologist Jean-Martin Charcot, but because Lou Gehrig was known nationally for baseball and this disease caused him to retire, the world didn’t recognize it until the 1930’s. ALS is also referred to Lou Gehrig’s disease and …show more content…
“Physicians obtain the patient's full medical history and usually conduct a neurologic examination at regular intervals to assess whether symptoms such as muscle weakness, atrophy of muscles, hyperreflexia, and spasticity are getting progressively worse.” (http://www.alsa.org/about-als/what-is-als.html?referrer=http://www.alsa.org/about-als/symptoms.html?referrer=https://www.google.com/) There are tests a physician can run to see if a person has ALS. Electro diagnostic tests like, electromyography (EMG), which measure your nerve signals and muscle response or nerve conduction velocity (NCV), which sends an electric shock to the nerves to stimulate and see how fast the nerve reacts. A physician can run blood and urine samples like, high resolution serum protein electrophoresis, thyroid and parathyroid hormone levels and 24-hour urine collection for heavy metals. A spinal tap, X-rays including an MRI, myelogram of cervical spine, muscle and/or nerve biopsy and a neurological examination all are tests a physician can run to test or rule out ALS. “These tests are done at the discretion of the physician, usually based on the results of other diagnostic tests and the physical examination. There are several diseases that have some of the same symptoms as ALS and most of these conditions are treatable. It is for this reason that The ALS Association recommends …show more content…
Because it is a life threating and irreversible disease, there is nothing that will take away the symptoms, but there are treatments to provide comfort and to try and slow down the progression of the disease. There are ways with medicine to help with some symptoms like drooling which can lead to choking and cough. There are medications that can help with pain, cramps and spasms. There are also medications to help treat fatigue. The drug Riluzole is the only medication that has been approved by the FDA for ALS. There are therapies to help with breathing, speech and movement. Physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy and breathing care. They have nutritionists and psychological and social support for those who need it. Over time you will have difficulty breathing and breathing care will help by providing with devices to assist their breathing. Physical therapy will help maintain your independence. A physical therapist will help with pain and mobility. Occupational therapy can help with muscle weakness and show exercises to do to help perform daily activities like eating, bathing and dressing. They can also help the person modify their home to become more accessible. Speech therapists can help them explore other methods of communication. Nutritionists can help a person make sure the food is able to be consumed or talk about a feeding tube. Psychological and social support