Free Essays on A.L.S

ALS Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (also called ALS or â€Å"Lou Gehrigs disease†) is a classic motor neuron disease. Motor neuron diseases are progressive chronic diseases of the nerves that come from the spinal cord responsible for supplying electrical stimulation to the muscles. This is the stimulation that makes our body parts move. ALS is progressive and fatal. The usual causes of death of patients with motor neuron diseases are not directly related to the disease, but result from simultaneous additional illnesses which occur because of body weaknesses. It usually occurs most often in adults in the fifth through the seventh decades of life. It usually causes death in 2 to 7 years. All forms of ALS cause progressive muscle weaknesses and wasting. Spontaneous tiny local areas of muscle twitching, called fasciculations, are characteristic in most patients. These may be sensed by the patient as muscle cramping. Lower extremity muscle wasting (atrophy) and weakness generally follows wasting of the arms, hands, and shoulders. Spastic muscles can be present. Treatment measures in patients with motor neuron diseases are largely supportive, treating the complications, such as infections and general health. The treatment of ALS is also directed toward suppressing the immune inflammation felt to play a role in the degeneration of the nervous system. While there is no cure for ALS or a proven therapy that will prevent or reverse the course of the disorder, the U.S. FDA has approved RILUTEK, the first drug that has been shown to prolong the survival of ALS patients. Creatine is widely used by many athletes. Recent animal studies have shown creatine works twice as well as RILUTEK.... Free Essays on A.L.S Free Essays on A.L.S ALS Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (also called ALS or â€Å"Lou Gehrigs disease†) is a classic motor neuron disease. Motor neuron diseases are progressive chronic diseases of the nerves that come from the spinal cord responsible for supplying electrical stimulation to the muscles. This is the stimulation that makes our body parts move. ALS is progressive and fatal. The usual causes of death of patients with motor neuron diseases are not directly related to the disease, but result from simultaneous additional illnesses which occur because of body weaknesses. It usually occurs most often in adults in the fifth through the seventh decades of life. It usually causes death in 2 to 7 years. All forms of ALS cause progressive muscle weaknesses and wasting. Spontaneous tiny local areas of muscle twitching, called fasciculations, are characteristic in most patients. These may be sensed by the patient as muscle cramping. Lower extremity muscle wasting (atrophy) and weakness generally follows wasting of the arms, hands, and shoulders. Spastic muscles can be present. Treatment measures in patients with motor neuron diseases are largely supportive, treating the complications, such as infections and general health. The treatment of ALS is also directed toward suppressing the immune inflammation felt to play a role in the degeneration of the nervous system. While there is no cure for ALS or a proven therapy that will prevent or reverse the course of the disorder, the U.S. FDA has approved RILUTEK, the first drug that has been shown to prolong the survival of ALS patients. Creatine is widely used by many athletes. Recent animal studies have shown creatine works twice as well as RILUTEK....