So heartbreaking...The start of Ice Bucket Challenge Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis ( ALS )- also referred to as Lou Gehrigs disease in the United States, and rarely Charcot disease—is a neurodegenerative disorder with various causes. ALS is characterised by muscle spasticity, rapidly progressive weakness due to muscle atrophy, and difficulty in speaking (dysarthria), swallowing (dysphagia), and breathing (dyspnea). ALS is the most common of the five motor neuron disorders. In the British Commonwealth, the term Motor neurone disorder (MND) often refers to ALS alone. In the U.S., more than 5,600 are diagnosed every year, and up to 30,000 Americans are currently affected. ALS is responsible for 2 deaths per 100,000 people per year. Median survival time from onset to death is 39 months, and only 4% survive longer than 10 years, although rare cases survive 50 years or more. Most die from respiratory failure, usually within three to five years from onset of symptoms.
Posted on: Sat, 30 Aug 2014 07:03:34 +0000
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