Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Case Study Essay -- Case Study

Case Study A 30 six year old male has developed severe ponderousness flunk throughout the body. The condition began xv months ago with a left over(p) foot drop and within a year, he described obstacle with speech and swallowing, pass twitching and cramping, and muscular atrophy throughout the f number and lower limbs. Within the last two months, his breathing has become more difficult, and there has been a noticeable difference in his voice. Prior to the fifteen months, he indicateed 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 lead to this patients fatal diagnosis. He is one of 2.5 per 100,000 plurality worldwide who have been diagnosed with amyotrophic askance sclerosis and forget mostly probable die of respiratory failure within 2 to 3 years. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis or ALS is a is a highly degenerative disease involving the nerve cells in the brai n and spinal cord that concord voluntary movement. The disease is sometimes referred to as Lou Gehrigs after the current York Yankees baseball player who was diagnosed with ALS in 1939. The disease causes degeneration of speed and lower motor neurons. These neurons connect the brainstem and spinal cord to muscle fibers and send electric impulses to the muscles. Without proper communication, the muscles begin to weaken and atrophy. Individuals with ALS will lose their ability for voluntary muscular find. Usually, bladder and bowel control are spared, 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 such a swift manner. I only hope that a better understanding of the causes of ALS can help find a cure. Works CitedALSInfo Lou Gherigs Disease (ALS) Internet. 2011. San ofi aventis US LLC last updated 2011 November 8 cited 2012 March 22. uncommitted from http//www.alsinfo.com/Hayes SM. 2001. Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Update on Anatomy, Physiology, Pharmacology, and Management. In Riolo L, editor. Topics in Physical Therapy Neurology. American Physical Therapy Association. Lesson 9.McKinley MP, OLoughlin VD. 2006. Nervous System Disorders. In Wheatley CH, editor. gentlemans gentleman anatomy. 2nd ed. Boston (MA) McGraw-Hill Higher Education. p 431.Umphred DA. 2001. Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. In Allen A, Zipperlen R, editors. neurological rehabilitation. 4th ed. St. Louis (MO) Mosby. p 363-385.