Symptoms of ALS
Early symptoms of ALS include increasing muscle weakness of the arms and legs, speech, swallowing, and breathing. In most individuals with ALS, as the disease progresses, cognitive function is spared
In the early stages of the ALS, patients symptoms are variable. One patient may trip frequently. Another may have problems holding objects. A third may have problems speaking and swallowing. The disease evolves into a combination of weakness in the muscles of the arms and legs and in the muscles necessary for speech and swallowing.
Patients can also experience muscle cramps and stiffness. Not all individuals with ALS have the same symptoms or progress in the same manner. As the disease progresses, however, other voluntary muscles, including the respiratory muscles, are eventually affected.
The average course of the disease from the time of diagnosis until death is 3 to 4 years, but it can vary from less than a year to more than 10 years. In some cases the disease has even halted.
Because ALS attacks only motor neurons of the voluntary muscles, the heart and digestive system are usually spared as are the nerves responsible for sight, touch, hearing, taste, and smell. Except for a small subgroup of individuals with ALS, the mind and thought processes are spared as the disease progresses. Unfortunately, breathing and swallowing muscles are affected in the later stages of the disease. As these muscle groups are affected, the goal of medical interventions becomes to maintain quality of life.
Decisions on interventions are personal, and each patient and their family are supported in their decisions. The MDA Clinic coordinates patient care through a multidisciplinary approach to meet patients' needs and to improve their quality of life.
