Als :: essays research papers

Medical history has been filled with an array of distempers and illnesses, ranging from the common icy to acid killers. Some are easily treatable and others can be terminal, belt up some of the worst are those that stock-still remain without a curative one such disease is amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, is a degenerative disease affecting the human nervous system. It is a destructive disease that cripples and kills its victims due to a breakdown in the bodys motor neurons. Motor neurons are nerve cells in the brainstem and spinal anaesthesia cord that control heftiness contractions. In ALS, these neurons deteriorate to a acid that all movement, including breathing, halts. Muscle weakness first develops in the muscles of body part distant from the brain, such as the hands, and subsequently spreads through other muscle groups closer to the brain. Such early symptoms as this, however, can hardly be noticed.Early symptoms of ALS are very slight and often all overlooked. They get under ones skin as simple things, such as tripping or displace things. Twitching or cramping of muscles and abnormal fatigue of the arms and legs may soon follow, causing difficulty in daily activities, such as walkway or dressing. In more advanced stages, however, shortness of breath or difficulty in breathing and swallowing ensue, until the body is completely taken over by the disease. Intellect, eye motion, bladder function, and sensation are the only abilities spared. Where and how this deadly disease originated is unknown, but it was first identified in 1869, by the famed French neurologist Jean-Martin Charcot. ALS is not contagious, but research is still vague on the designer of the disease. Today, there are three acknowledge forms of ALS genetic, sporadic, and Guamanian. The genetic form of ALS appears to be inherited or passed down within a family, and about ten percent of ALS patients deport a famil y history of the disease. An abnormal gene has been located in about half these families, but the cause of the remaining half is still unknown. The next, most common form, is sporadic ALS. These patients have no family history of disease, and the cause of their coming down with ALS is a mystery. Finally, is Guamanian ALS, called this because a high portion of cases occur in the Pacific Islands near Guam.One major terra firma ALS is such a frightening disease is because no be cured _or_ healed has been established. Although no effective treatment has been developed, a number of drug trials have been conducted, and there are some devices designed to help ALS patients suffer independence as well as safety as the disease progresses.