AMYOTROPHIC LATERAL SCLEROSIS (ALS)

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis or ALS, is a progressive nervous system (neurological) disease that destroys nerve cells and causes disability. ALS often begins with muscle twitching and weakness in a limb, or slurred speech. Eventually, ALS affects control of the muscles needed to move, speak, eat and breathe. 

Early signs and symptoms of ALS include:

• Difficulty walking or doing your normal daily activities
• Tripping and falling
• Weakness in your leg, feet or ankles
• Hand weakness or clumsiness
• Slurred speech or trouble swallowing
• Muscle cramps and twitching in your arms, shoulders and tongue
• Difficulty holding your head up or keeping good posture