Lateral sclerosis( ALS )

By admin in Muscular on November 16 2008

Lateral sclerosis, a rare disease of the brain and spinal cord, occurring primarily in men between the ages of forty and fifty years. Degeneration and scarring (sclerosis) come about gradually, leading to loss of control of muscle groups in the hands, arms, legs, and throat. As a result, the person may note tremors in the arms and legs, difficulty in swallowing and speaking, and shrinkage of the muscle of the extremities. Many factors have been attributed as a cause, such as fatigue, alcohol, lead poisoning, and syphilis, but actually the real cause is not known. Injury seems to play no part in lateral sclerosis. Treatment may include high-vitamin diet, muscle stimulants such as prostigmine, and rest.