What+is+ALS

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis or Lou Gehrig's Disease, is a motor neuron disease, which affects the control of voluntary muscles. It affects walking, general movement of your body, also affects speaking, breathing, and swallowing. It is by affecting the nerve cells that control the muscles we move voluntarily that makes this disease so fatal. The nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord known as motor neurons gradually degenerate and the muscles under their control become weak and waste away. It is a progressive and fatal disease and patients eventually become disabled.

The progressiveness of this disease varies for each person. People remain alert and are able to think clearly, the five senses are unaffected and most people maintain control over their bowels and bladder function. At times this helps people cope better with this disease, it has been shown that some people have better coping abilities while others may become anxious and depressed because it does not affect your cognitive abilites and people are aware of their progressive loss of function.

ALS is a very common neuromuscular disease that is seen worldwide, and people of all races and ethnic backgrounds are affected. It is said that one or two out of 100,000 people develop ALS each year.

media type="youtube" key="yZeWWJHTV1g" height="305" width="383" align="left"This video shows a piece of how someone can see what it's like to live with ALS. By watching this video you might be able to see what someone may feel by having this disease.