What do you do if you are diagnosed with ALS?

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What do you do if you are diagnosed with ALS?

Newly Diagnosed with ALS? 8 Things You Can Do Today

  1. Take time to adjust.
  2. Learn about ALS.
  3. Take charge of your care.
  4. Reach out to family and friends.
  5. Join a support group.
  6. Stay active: Gentle exercises can help maintain muscle function and joint flexibility.
  7. Do everything you can for your health.

How long do you live after being diagnosed with ALS?

Although the mean survival time with ALS is two to five years, some people live five, 10 or more years. Symptoms can begin in the muscles that control speech and swallowing or in the hands, arms, legs or feet.

How can you help someone with ALS?

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Call your loved one to chat—even if it may feel hard to pick up the phone. Or schedule a video call. Send the occasional card, email, text, or small gift. Whether it’s volunteering, fundraising, donating, or becoming an advocate, there are many ways to get involved in the broader fight against ALS.

What are the 6 stages of ALS?

Early stage ALS. Early symptoms of ALS are usually characterized by muscle weakness,tightness (spasticity),cramping,or twitching (fasciculations).

  • Middle stage ALS. During the middle stages of ALS,muscle weakness and atrophy spreads to other parts of the body.
  • Late stage ALS. As ALS progresses,most voluntary muscles become paralyzed.

    • What test to rule out ALS?

    Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is difficult to diagnose early because it may mimic several other neurological diseases. Tests to rule out other conditions may include: Electromyogram (EMG). During an EMG, your doctor inserts a needle electrode through your skin into various muscles.

    How do doctors diagnose ALS?

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    If ALS is suspected, your doctor may order electrodiagnostic tests, such as an electromyography or a nerve conduction velocity test. These tests provide information on the transmission of nerve signals to your muscles. Your doctor may also order blood and urine samples, or perform a spinal tap to examine spinal fluid.

    How do you diagnosis ALS?

    There is no single test to diagnose ALS. Instead, it must be diagnosed by ruling out all other possible causes of symptoms. For this reason, diagnosis can take months, or in some cases, years. A positive diagnosis should come from a neurologist specializing in motor neuron diseases .