How did your ALS present?

How did your ALS present?

Initial Symptoms of ALS Bulbar onset usually affects voice and swallowing first. The majority of ALS patients have limb onset. For these individuals, early symptoms may include dropping things, tripping, fatigue of the arms and legs, slurred speech and muscle cramps and twitches.

Who is affected by ALS?

Most people who develop ALS are between the ages of 40 and 70, although the disease can occur at a younger age. It occurs throughout the world with no racial, ethnic or socioeconomic boundaries. It affects as many as 30,000 in the United States, with 5,000 new cases diagnosed each year.

What was your first signs of ALS?

Early symptoms of ALS usually include muscle weakness or stiffness. Gradually all voluntary muscles are affected, and individuals lose their strength and the ability to speak, eat, move, and even breathe. Most people with ALS die from respiratory failure, usually within 3 to 5 years from when the symptoms first appear.

How did you realize ALS?

Typical early symptoms include tripping and falling; painless weakness in the legs, feet (also called foot drop), or ankles; hand weakness; slurred speech or trouble swallowing; muscle twitching or cramps in the arms, shoulders, or tongue; and difficulty holding the head up or maintaining good posture.

When do people realize they have ALS?

And you’re right; it takes on average about nine to 12 months for someone to be diagnosed with ALS, from the time they first began to notice symptoms. Getting the proper evaluation in a timely way is important, especially since we have a drug, Rilutek, which has been shown to help delay the progression of ALS.

Can mercury fillings cause ALS?

Both groups had similar numbers of current, as well as former, mercury fillings. In conclusion, this study found no evidence that mercury exposure from eating seafood, or from mercury dental fillings, was associated with the risk of developing ALS.

Who gets ALS the most?

Most people who develop ALS are between the ages of 40 and 70, with an average age of 55 at the time of diagnosis. However, cases of the disease do occur in people in their twenties and thirties. ALS is 20 percent more common in men than in women.

How can you prevent getting ALS?

Get Regular Exercise When combined with a healthy diet rich in antioxidants, exercise can reduce the risk of Lou Gehrig’s disease. Gentle exercises such as swimming, gardening, and yoga can help seniors stay in shape and prevent ALS.