{"id":1058,"date":"2017-07-03T08:39:17","date_gmt":"2017-07-03T08:39:17","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/simplyhealth.today\/?p=1058"},"modified":"2021-03-12T20:58:33","modified_gmt":"2021-03-12T20:58:33","slug":"13-common-symptoms-als","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.today\/13-common-symptoms-als\/","title":{"rendered":"13 Most Common Symptoms of ALS"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"ALS is an acronym for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and is also referred to as Lou Gehrig\u2019s disease or motor neuron disease. This is a condition that leads to the death of neurons that are responsible for voluntary movement.<\/p>\n

Neurons are brain cells which form a giant web across the brain called the \u2018connectome\u2019. These neurons each represent different sensations and actions from our body and are also responsible for encoding our memories, emotions and personality.<\/p>\n

Clusters of neurons in specific regions such as the motor cortex are responsible for sending and receiving information to the muscles and the nerves, allowing us to move around and to feel feedback from those movements. These are the neurons that are damaged by ALS.<\/p>\n

In around 90-95% of cases, the cause for ALS is not known. This is a hereditary disease and in 5-10% of cases, the condition will have been passed on from parents. However, there are many more cases where the condition appears to \u2018come from nowhere\u2019.<\/p>\n

There is no known cure for ALS and ultimately the condition is fatal. However, there are medications that can help to slow down the progress of the illness, extend the lifespan and potentially ease the symptoms during life. Non-invasive ventilation is also able to both extend the lifespan and improve quality of life during that time.<\/p>\n

The average survival from the onset of the symptoms to death is usually two to four years, with roughly 10% surviving for longer than 10 years. The condition affects two in every 100,000 people in the US every year.<\/p>\n

It is critical to be on the lookout for symptoms of ALS. The sooner treatment is started, the sooner medication can be used to try and prolong the life and reduce the severity of the symptoms. In this post, we will look at 13 of the most common symptoms.<\/p>\n

1. \u00a0Difficulty With Normal Activities<\/h3>\n

The start of ALS can be difficult to notice at first, which means the initial symptoms are often overlooked. This gives the condition time to develop into more obvious weakness.<\/p>\n

Thus it is important to be vigilant and ever on the lookout for even mild changes to your usual health. You might first notice this as difficulty in carrying out regular tasks: perhaps you can\u2019t quite coordinate your movements, or perhaps things are taking just a little longer than they used. Perhaps you struggle to sew the thread through your needle, or maybe you struggle cutting carrots<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"\"2. \u00a0Difficulty Walking<\/h3>\n

A relatively early symptom can be difficulty with walking. You might find that walking feels more difficult and you become tireder more quickly.<\/p>\n

Alternatively, you might struggle once again to coordinate the movement of your legs. You might find it hard to take steps, or you might find it hard to navigate around other pedestrians.<\/p>\n

These are all easy to dismiss as being caused by other things, such as tiredness<\/a>, weakness, old age, joint problems. But you shouldn\u2019t ignore any change that seems to come from nowhere.<\/p>\n

\"\"3. \u00a0Increased Clumsiness<\/h3>\n

If you notice yourself having more accidents: bumping into things or banging yourself on the sideboard, then this can also be a sign of ALS<\/a> as it suggests that you are struggling to recognize your position in space and move yourself correctly through it.<\/p>\n

Likewise, you might be more prone to dropping things, or to damaging things.<\/p>\n

\"\"4. \u00a0Weakness in the Hands and Feet<\/h3>\n

While it\u2019s common to notice weakness throughout the body, one area where it is often easiest to spot is in the hands and feet. You might struggle with gripping things, or your feet might feel very tired after a long day. This also contributes to the aforementioned clumsiness and difficulty with walking.<\/p>\n

Not only is your coordination impaired<\/a>, but you physically find it harder to perform the tasks you used to.<\/p>\n

\"\"5. \u00a0Poor Posture<\/h3>\n

As the condition progresses slightly more, it is common to notice that it affects your posture.<\/p>\n

This is potentially caused by the muscles<\/a> becoming weaker and by your losing some of your conscious control over them. You might gradually start leaning forward in your seat as you are talking, or you may struggle to hold the head upward.<\/p>\n

Of course, we are all guilty of this to some small extent, so don\u2019t be alarmed if you have always had a bit of a hunched-back at your desk!<\/p>\n

\"\"6. \u00a0Pain<\/h3>\n

Later on, this might also cause pain and discomfort which can be felt all around the body. This is due to changes in the brain that affect the feedback from nerves<\/a>, causing muscle ache and sharp pains.<\/p>\n

Muscles might also experience painful cramping, which can be the result of similar degeneration and interference with the signals between the brain and the muscles.<\/p>\n

Pain can also be caused by immobility and complications arising from that. The inability to shift from an uncomfortable position for example can cause discomfort.<\/p>\n

\"\"7. \u00a0Tightness<\/h3>\n

ALS can affect both the upper motor neurons and the lower motor neurons<\/a>. Upper motor neurons cause tightness, while the lower motor neuron degeneration is more likely to cause shrinking and degeneration.<\/p>\n

In many cases, ALS will cause both types of symptom at once. However, one might be noticed before the other or one might be more pronounced than the other.<\/p>\n

\"\"8. \u00a0Fasciculations<\/h3>\n

Fasciculations<\/a> are small twitches and involuntary movements which are once again the result of disruptions in the signals between the brain and the nerves.<\/p>\n

Twitches and involuntary movements might be confused for Parkinson\u2019s or even Tourette\u2019s. As ever, it is always important to consider the bigger picture and to look at multiple symptoms as they occur together as a whole, rather than focussing on the symptoms individually and attempting to make a diagnosis from just one or two.<\/p>\n

\"\"9. \u00a0Slurring<\/h3>\n

A more advanced symptom of ALS is slurring and difficulty with speech.<\/p>\n

This is due to weakness in the facial muscles<\/a> and difficulty controlling the mouth in order to create the correct sounds. Again, this can easily be mistaken for a number of other conditions.<\/p>\n

\"\"10. \u00a0Saliva and Mucus<\/h3>\n

Similarly, those with ALS might notice changes to their saliva and mucus<\/a> and begin to experience difficulty with dribbling and keeping their mouths clear.<\/p>\n

This is once again caused by weaknesses in voluntary muscle movements. Eventually, weakness over voluntary muscle control can result in weakness around the rest of the body as muscle tone generally begins to atrophy. This can also result in difficulty breathing at the most advanced stages of ALS.<\/p>\n

This is when breathing apparatus can be used in order to improve quality of life.<\/p>\n

\"\"11. \u00a0Crying and Laughter<\/h3>\n

Not all cases of ALS but some will result in temporary lapses in control over emotional expressions. This can cause bouts of inappropriate laughter or crying, which is a phenomenon known also as pseudobulbar affect<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Medication such as Nuedexta can help to manage the symptom.<\/p>\n

\"\"12. \u00a0Behavioral Changes<\/h3>\n

Finally, another change that may appear in some cases in the more advanced stages is alterations in behavior and personality. If a person appears to be acting out of character, then this can be a result of frontotemporal dementia<\/a>.<\/p>\n

However, unlike other causes of dementia, it is uncommon for these symptoms to occur alongside Alzheimer\u2019s-type memory loss.<\/p>\n

\"\"13. \u00a0Risk Factors<\/h3>\n

When attempting to self-diagnose any symptoms, it is always useful to consider the risk factors<\/a> and whether you might fall into an at-risk group. ALS is more common in those over 60, though in inherited cases, it becomes more likely to begin at 50. If you notice signs of ALS, then consider your family history and whether this is likely.<\/p>\n

Of course it is not impossible for symptoms to begin earlier, but statistically this is more likely to be the cause if you are over 60.<\/p>\n\r\n

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