Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), Definition, Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis, Treatment, Prevention, Complications

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), Definition, Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis, Treatment, Prevention, Complications

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is a nerve disorder that can worsen over time, leading to paralysis. Initially, ALS is characterized by muscle twitching, muscle weakness, and impaired speech. ALS or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is a disease that became famous in 2014 through the ice bucket challenge, which is a challenge that involves pouring a bucket of cold water over the head. This challenge was created to raise funds for research on ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease.

Specifically, ALS attacks the brain and spinal cord that control muscle movement (motor nerves) so it is also known as motor nerve disease. Over time, the nerves will be more and more damaged. As a result, ALS sufferers lose muscle strength, the ability to talk, eat, and breathe.

Causes of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

The cause of ALS is not known. However, about 5-10% of ALS cases are known to be hereditary.
In addition to heredity, several studies have shown that

ALS is thought to be associated with the following conditions:

• Excess glutamate

Glutamate is a chemical that acts as a sender of messages to and from the brain and nerves. However, when it accumulates around nerve cells, glutamate can cause nerve damage.

• Immune system disorders

In people with ALS, the immune system mistakenly attacks healthy nerve cells. As a result, there is damage to these cells.

• Mitochondrial disorders

Mitochondria are the site of energy production in cells. Disturbances in the formation of this energy can damage nerve cells and accelerate the worsening of ALS.

• Oxidative stress

Excessive levels of free radicals will cause oxidative stress and cause damage to various body cells.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis risk factors
There are a number of factors that can increase a person's risk of developing ALS, including:

• Between 40–70 years old
• Having parents who suffer from ALS
• Long-term exposure to lead chemicals
• Have a smoking habit

Symptoms of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

Early symptoms of ALS often start in the legs and then spread to other parts of the body. As the disease progresses, symptoms will get worse, nerve cells will be damaged, and muscles will continue to weaken.

The above conditions affect the patient's ability to speak, chew, swallow, and breathe.

Symptoms of ALS include:

• Muscle cramps or stiffness and twitching of the arms and tongue
• Arms feel weak and often drop things
• Weakened limbs so often fall or stumble
• Difficulty holding head up and maintaining body position
• Difficulty walking and doing daily activities
• Speech disorders, such as slurred speech or too slow
• Difficulty swallowing, choking easily, and drooling from the mouth

Although it interferes with movement, ALS does not affect sensory function and the ability to control urination or bowel movements. People with ALS are also able to think well and interact with other people.

When to go to the doctor

Immediately see a doctor if you feel changes in the muscles of the arms and legs, muscle cramps in the legs, and the body feels weak for several days or weeks. It is also necessary to see a doctor if there are changes in the way you talk or walk.

ALS is a disease that will get worse gradually. If you are diagnosed with ALS, do regular check-ups with a neurologist, so that the development of this disease is more closely monitored.

Diagnosis of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

To be able to determine ALS, the doctor will ask in detail about the patient's symptoms and perform a physical examination. After that, to rule out the possibility of symptoms being caused by other diseases, the doctor will run the following tests:

• Electromyography (EMG), to check the electrical activity of muscles
• An MRI scan, to see which nervous system is problematic
• Test blood and urine samples, to determine the patient's general health condition and detect genetic disorders or other causative factors
• Examination of nerve conduction velocity, to assess the function of the motor nerves of the body
• Muscle tissue sampling (biopsy), to see abnormalities in the muscles
• Lumbar puncture examination, to examine a sample of cerebrospinal fluid taken through the spine

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Treatment

ALS treatment aims to slow the progression of the disease and prevent complications. Treatment methods that can be given include:

Drugs

To treat ALS, doctors may prescribe the following medications:

• Baclofen and diazepam, to relieve symptoms of muscle stiffness that interfere with daily activities
• Trihexyphenidyl or amitriptyline, to help patients who have difficulty swallowing
• Riluzole, to slow the progression of nerve damage that occurs in ALS

Therapy

Therapy in ALS is done to help muscle function and breathing. The therapies that can be given are:

• Respiratory therapy, to help patients who have difficulty breathing due to weakening of the respiratory muscles
• Physical therapy (physiotherapy), to help the patient move, and to maintain the patient's physical fitness, heart health, and muscle strength
• Talk therapy, to help patients communicate well
• Occupational therapy, to help patients perform daily activities independently
• Regulation of nutritional intake, by providing food that is easy to swallow but still sufficient for the patient's nutritional needs
• ALS cannot be completely treated. However, the various treatments above can relieve symptoms and help patients carry out their daily activities.

Complications of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

As ALS progresses, sufferers can experience the following complications:

• Difficulty speaking
The words spoken by people with ALS become unclear and difficult to understand.
• Difficulty breathing
This condition can lead to respiratory failure, which is the leading cause of death in ALS sufferers.
• Difficulty eating
These complications can cause ALS sufferers to lack nutrition and fluids.
• Dementia
Dementia is a condition that causes memory loss and the ability to make decisions.

Prevention of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is difficult to prevent, because the cause is unknown. Get regular checkups, especially if you have a family member with ALS, or you have mobility problems.

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