ALS Awareness

Amyotophic Lateral Sclerosis or ALS is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects the nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. Amyotrophic is Greek and means No Muscle nourishment. Muscles without nourishment become atrophic and waste away.

Lateral tells where in the body the event takes place. In this case it is in the area across a persons spinal cord. This the same area where nerve cells that signal and control muscles are located. The area degenerates and leads to scarring or hardening "sclerosis" in the area. 

There is an average of 5,600 individuals in the United States that will be diagnosed with ALS each year. Around 15 new cases a day will occur with more men and more Caucasians being diagnosed. It is a medical issue that affects individuals between the age of 40 to 70. This does not mean that younger individuals will not develop ALS. However, it does seem to be a disorder that affects individuals as they age.

Facts about ALS:

• ALS is not contagious
• Those diagnosed with ALS will live between two to five years
• ALS is progressive and takes away the ability to walk, dress, write, speak, swallow and breathe
• ALS does not discriminate 
• military vets have been shown to develop ALS two times more than others
• ALS involves muscle weakness or stiffness as early symptoms