According to Anthony Geraci, MD, Director of Neuromuscular Medicine at Northwell Health, "ALS is generally diagnosed by neuromuscular neurologists." "Early indications include modest weakening of a limb, such as a minor foot drop that causes you to fall on occasion, or reduced finger dexterity, such as when typing on a computer." Larger muscle groups can also be affected, and the patient may have difficulty getting out of a chair or raising their arms to brush their hair. When ingesting liquids, some individuals have slurred speech or coughing as a first symptom. Muscle jerks and cramping are also early indicators." Early ALS does not affect everyone in the same manner. Some patients may have symptoms in their arm or leg initially, which is known as limb onset. Others may experience early sensations in the muscles of the face and neck, as well as difficulties speaking or swallowing. Bulbar onset refers to when it first occurs in the face muscles. Which nerves and muscles are damaged initially determines the early symptoms. As the illness develops, more muscle groups get implicated, eventually affecting all of the body's muscles. Pseudobulbar affect, or uncontrolled crying or laughing, is a symptom of ALS in some people. This symptom might last for the rest of your life as the condition progresses. Although anybody can get ALS, there are several risk factors to consider:
ALS can't be diagnosed with a single laboratory test. It is frequently diagnosed based on a comprehensive history of symptoms, physician observation, and exclusion (ruling out other conditions). If ALS is suspected, your doctor will ask you the following questions, according to Dr. Geraci:
Your doctor may recommend testing to rule out HIV, human T-cell leukemia, West Nile virus, multiple sclerosis, post-polio syndrome, and Kennedy's disease before establishing a diagnosis. The following are some of the tests carried out throughout the diagnostic process:
The majority of persons who develop ALS die from respiratory failure within one to five years of the beginning of symptoms. Only around ten percent of people live for ten years or more.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |