Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Case Study Essay -- Case Study

Case Study A thirty cardinal year old male has developed severe muscle weakness throughout the body. The condition began fifteen months ago with a left ass drop and within a year, he described difficulty with dialect and swallowing, muscle twitching and cramping, and muscular atrophy throughout the upper and start out limbs. Within the last 2 months, his breathing has become more difficult, and in that respect has been a noticeable difference in his voice. Prior to the fifteen months, he presented little to no symptoms. The patient, a medical doctor, has a wife and two young children. What began as seemingly innocent muscle weakness and cramping has provide to this patients fatal diagnosis. He is one of 2.5 per 100,000 people world(a) who have been diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral induration and will mostly likely communicate of respiratory failure within 2 to 3 years. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis or ALS is a is a highly degenerative complaint involving the nerve c ells in the brain and spinal cord that control unforced movement. The disease is sometimes referred to as Lou Gehrigs after the New York Yankees baseball player who was diagnosed with ALS in 1939. The disease causes degeneration of upper and cut down motor neurons. These neurons connect the brainstem and spinal cord to muscle fibers and lodge electric impulses to the muscles. Without proper communication, the muscles begin to weaken and atrophy. Individuals with ALS will support their ability for voluntary muscular control. Usually, bladder and bowel control be sp ard, though this is not always the case. Cognitive functions and sensory nerves are also typically spared, but the affected individuals may present symptoms of dementia.initial symptoms generally include muscular weak... ...ological degeneration could happen in much(prenominal) a swift manner. I only hope that a break in understanding of the causes of ALS can help find a cure. deeds CitedALSInfo Lou Gher igs Disease (ALS) Internet. 2011. Sanofi aventis US LLC last updated 2011 November 8 cited 2012 March 22. Available from http//www.alsinfo.com/ convert SM. 2001. Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Update on Anatomy, Physiology, Pharmacology, and Management. In Riolo L, editor. Topics in bodily Therapy Neurology. American Physical Therapy Association. Lesson 9.McKinley MP, OLoughlin VD. 2006. Nervous System Disorders. In Wheatley CH, editor. Human anatomy. second ed. Boston (MA) McGraw-Hill Higher Education. p 431.Umphred DA. 2001. Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. In Allen A, Zipperlen R, editors. Neurological rehabilitation. fourth ed. St. Louis (MO) Mosby. p 363-385.