ALS is also referred to as Lou Gehrig's disease. It affects your central nervous system and can eventually be fatal. As ALS progresses, so do debilitating symptoms that affect muscle movement. One symptom is weight loss. This is caused from not being able to eat properly or failure to thrive. Weight loss is a serious symptom of ALS and you should talk with your physician about treatment.
ALS
ALS, or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, is commonly named after Lou Gehrig, a famous American baseball player who retired in 1939 because of its crippling affects. More than 5,600 people are diagnosed annually with ALS in the U.S. If you have a family member who was diagnosed with ALS, you have a greater risk of developing the disease. With ALS, the nerve cells in your body stop functioning and eventually die. Early on in diagnosis, you may notice subtle symptoms that can be managed with medication and physical therapy. Over time, the symptoms can get worse and interfere with daily functions.
Symptoms
With ALS, it can be difficult to make an accurate diagnosis, because the signs can be subtle at first. Symptoms can start off as frequent uncontrolled muscle twitching or muscle spasms. Problems with speech are often identified early on. This includes slurred speech, trouble talking or with pronunciation, hoarseness or losing your voice completely. Other symptoms include difficulty breathing, muscle weakness, muscle cramping and difficulty walking or moving. Drooling, gagging and choking easily can make it difficult to eat a balanced meal -- resulting in weight loss.
Complications
One of the biggest complications an ALS patient faces is not being able to swallow food -- this can lead to choking episodes. Failure to maintain proper nutrition will result in rapid weight loss. A feeding tube may be inserted in order to maintain current weight. Over time, weight loss can speed up the progression of ALS. The prognosis for ALS is grim. Most people only live up to five years after an initial diagnosis. ALS can cause death several months after diagnosis in some cases.
Precaution
While weight loss and the symptoms of choking on food can cause anxiety and weight loss, there are other symptoms a caregiver should watch for. Paralysis can occur suddenly, causing an abrupt halt to some or all muscle groups. In the final stages of ALS, breathing and swallowing will be affected -- this can cause a back up of fluid in the lungs and air passageways. Palliative or hospice care may be instituted to assure that the patient is as comfortable as possible in the final stages of disease.
