ALS, or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, is a severe disease in which the nerves in the brain and spinal cord responsible for movement are damaged. Ten percent of ALS cases are related to genetic defects; however, the cause of the other 90 percent of cases is unknown, states MedlinePlus of the National Institutes of Health. This condition affects one out of every 100,000 people and involves muscle weakening, twitching and the inability to move the extremities. A patient with ALS should also be aware of the atypical symptoms of this disease.
Drooling
According to MedlinePlus, a patient with ALS may experience drooling, or the involuntary leakage of saliva from the mouth. This generally occurs in the latter stages of ALS. Drooling occurs because muscles in the mouth can no longer tighten and keep saliva in. The patient cannot control saliva leakage. Should this occur, the patient, or his caregiver, should let the doctor know, because medications may be prescribed to help relieve drooling.
Weight Loss
According to MayoClinic.com, a patient may experience weight loss in the latter stages of ALS. Due to the disease, muscle fibers are not being used, which leads to muscle breakdown. The loss of muscle fibers, termed atrophy, significantly contributes to weight loss. Furthermore, a patient is likely to not eat as much as usual, which may also contribute to weight loss. In this case, a patient should let his doctor know he is losing weight so the proper diagnosis of weight loss can be determined.
Swelling
In some cases, an ALS patient may experience swelling in the ankle, feet or legs, states MedlinePlus. Swelling is an atypical symptom of this disease and can occur for many reasons. A doctor will take a thorough history, perform a physical exam and review medications to determine the cause of ankle, foot and leg swelling. If swelling is problematic, compression stockings, repeated leg elevation and medications, such as diuretics, may be used to reduce swelling in the lower extremities.
