Signs and Symptoms of ALS – Part One

Two of the most famous figures in all of American history that have come forward into the world stage for Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is Lou Gehrig and Stephen Hawking. In 1939 when Lou Gehrig, a famous New York Yankee player was first diagnosed with the disease, it became the buzz of the health insurance providers from coast to coast.
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is a progressively fatal neurodegenerative disease caused by the death of the motor neurons, nerve cells that control the voluntary movement of the muscles. The health care community and the health insurance providers have all observed the degenerative process of Stephen Hawking who was a very physically active individual before receiving the diagnosis.
The main and most obvious physical conditions as reported through the medical health care community, defined by the health insurance providers is the muscle weakness, atrophy that slowly, and effectively incorporates the entire body of the individual. The health care community has observed a few standard afflictions.
1. Weakness in the upper motor neurons degenerate
2. Weakness in the lower motor neurons degenerate
3. Eventual development of fasciculation’s or twitches
4. All voluntary movement slowly ceases
Unfortunately, in most cases, the health insurance provider considers the disease a pre-existing condition and the individual will ultimately have to look elsewhere for assistance in curtailing the onset progression. The main working parts of the body that will continue to function are the bladder, bowel sphincters, and the muscles responsible for eye movement, but this is not steadfast rule.
According to the medical health care physicians who are familiar with Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) have also observed that it depends on where the symptoms begin to decipher where the first signs of the disease will appear. Each individual is its own medical health care case and this makes treating the disease difficult at times.
The medical health care physicians have found that a majority of the individuals affected with Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) first report weakness with a tingling sensation affecting their arms and legs. Some may even express times of weakness which makes them feel weak legged and they must find a place to sit down.
Other patients have reported to their primary medical health care physician that they have been experiencing slurred speech at times. These are, unfortunately, all signs of Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and the medical health care community has yet to find a cure.