ALS, or Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, is often referred to as Lou Gehrig's disease. This disease strikes between the ages of 20 and 80, with the onset age being in the 50s. ALS is a serious and progressive neuro-degenerative disease that affects the spinal cord and the nerve cells located in and around the brain. ALS focuses on the degeneration of the motor neurons that travel from the brain to the spinal cord and the rest of the muscles throughout the body. The end result is muscle malfunction and lack of movement within the body's main muscle groups, including the lungs.
Immobility
While most mobility symptoms, such as muscle twitching, cramping in the muscles, tripping, falling and clumsiness, are less severe at first, they can progress quickly. Falling may turn into more frequent episodes in which ALS patients eventually lose all sense of balance and coordination---becoming walker and wheelchair dependent and eventually bed-bound once the arms and legs are unable to support the body.
Respiratory Failure
A common sign of the progression of ALS is respiratory failure. In ALS patients, respiratory failure occurs when the muscles in the lungs begin to deteriorate and no longer function properly or adequately. This condition prohibits the transfer of oxygen that is inhaled and the exchange of carbon dioxide to be released. The muscles fail to expand, causing the lungs to eventually begin to fill up with fluid---placing more pressure and strain on both the lungs and the heart.
Pulmonary Infection
A pulmonary infection generally occurs when the lungs and their defense mechanisms are comprised. This could be a direct cause from the muscles in the lungs and surrounding chest area becoming debilitated, or it could be from the patient lying in bed and being immobile for long periods of time. The pulmonary infection should be treated with a strong course of antibiotic therapy and possibly physical therapy---depending on the patient and family wishes and instructions. Pulmonary infection that leads to pneumonia is a progressed form of ALS that will likely lead to death if untreated.
Intact Abilities
One of the most saddening and horrifying effects of the progression of ALS in its final stages is the ability to still have completely clear brain function. This includes sight, hearing, taste, feeling and touch. This is difficult for most patients, because they can actually feel that their muscles no longer work. Those who have experienced injury or are paralyzed cannot feel the limbs or areas affected, but ALS sufferers can--they just cannot move or operate their muscle groups. In the final stages, sufferers can see and think, but they cannot talk or communicate to those around them.
Survival
Once a patient is diagnosed, the survival rate of progressed ALS disease is grim. According to the Robert Packard Research Center at John Hopkins Hospital, most patients have only a 50 percent chance of survival of 3 years after diagnosis. Twenty percent of those diagnosed will live to 5 years, and only 10 percent have a chance of living for up to 10 years after diagnosis. The progression of the disease is disturbing, because some patients can remain in physical "vegetable" state for the last several months of life---requiring around-the-clock medical care and supervision.
