What Are Some Prevention Tips for Avoiding Lou Gehrig's Disease?

Lou Gehrig's disease, also know as Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), affects two out of every 100,000 persons in the U.S., according to the ALS Association. Each year, 5,600 new cases of Lou Gehrig's disease are diagnosed with only 10 percent of those cases linked to genetic defect. In the other 90 percent, the cause is unknown, although men are 20 percent more likely to develop Lou Gehrig's disease than women. There are no known preventative measures that can be taken to avoid developing the disease.

Description

• ALS affects the nerve cells responsible for voluntary muscle control located in the brain and spinal cord. The brain neurons die and lose the ability to send messages to the muscles, which in turn can cause twitching, muscle weakness and eventually paralysis. This is an aggressive and progressive disease which often results in death within three to five years after diagnosis.

  Most people develop the disease between the ages of 40 and 70, although ALS sometimes occurs in younger persons over the age of 20. The disease has a 93 percent predominance in Caucasian persons. Although the disease strikes the entire body, it does not affect the five senses or the ability to think and reason clearly.

Symptoms

• Symptoms of ALS may include difficulty breathing or swallowing, drooping head, cramping and weakness of the muscles, choking and gagging, speech difficulties and difficulty walking, climbing or lifting. In addition, the disease may cause muscle spasms, paralysis of limbs (most commonly beginning in the hand or arm), hoarseness of speech, weight loss and swelling in the legs and feet.

Treatment

• Although there is no known cure for Lou Gehrig's disease, a promising drug called Riluzole, approved by the FDA in 1995, has shown some success in helping to slow the onset of the disease. Although many sufferers die within the first five years of diagnosis, some may even see a halt in the progression of the disease; over 20 percent live up to 10 years with 10 percent living more than 10 years.

  A few drugs, such as Diazepam or Baclofen, may be used to control muscle spasms, and people who have difficulty swallowing may be prescribed Amitriptyline or Trihexphenidyl. Rehabilitation may also be prescribed to help slow the progression of the disease along with a nutritionist to help the patient with weight loss issues. As the disease progresses, the patient may need the aid of leg braces or a wheelchair, and devices such as breathing machines may be added in the evening to assist with breathing.