Can amyotrophic lateral sclerosis be relieved?

Written by Zhang Hui
Neurology
Updated on September 04, 2024
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Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) refers to a motor neuron disease, and generally speaking, there are no effective alleviation measures for this disease. Currently, the specific causes and pathogenesis of this disease are not very clear. Various factors lead to the simultaneous damage of both upper and lower motor neurons in patients. Clinical manifestations include muscle weakness, muscle atrophy, and fasciculations. Additionally, patients may experience difficulties with swallowing, choking while drinking water, and speech disorders. In its most severe form, it can affect breathing, leading to respiratory failure. This disease progressively worsens, and the prognosis is generally poor with no effective relief methods available.

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Written by Liu Hong Mei
Neurology
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Is amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) contagious?

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), commonly known as Lou Gehrig's disease, is not contagious. It is a genetic disease associated with autosomal dominant inheritance and is not considered an infectious disease. The exact cause of ALS is still unclear. Commonly identified mechanisms include genetic factors, inflammatory agents, excitotoxic effects from amino acids, infections, autoimmune factors, exposure to toxins, and heavy metal poisoning from metals like lead, mercury, and aluminum. Other contributing factors may include a deficiency in nerve growth factors, mitochondrial dysfunction, and apoptosis. These factors may likely be involved in the development of ALS symptoms, but the disease is not communicable.

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Written by Liu Hong Mei
Neurology
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How to exercise for swallowing difficulties in people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Swallowing difficulties in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis primarily involve exercises for oral muscles. Improvement in the movement of oral muscles can alleviate symptoms of swallowing difficulties. Rehabilitation training for oral muscle disorders mainly includes enhancing the movements of the lips, tongue, and lower jaw. Individuals with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis who have brainstem damage and medullary damage may experience swallowing difficulties, water drinking issues, and cough choking, primarily due to sensory disturbances in the throat. By utilizing temperature and sensory stimulation, the sensation in the patient's throat can be restored, allowing them to perceive the temperature and taste of food, thus reducing aspiration. After brainstem damage, the cricopharyngeal muscle does not open, which can be improved through balloon dilation and medication to enhance swallowing function.

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Written by Liu Hong Mei
Neurology
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How do people with ALS eat if they can't swallow?

Patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) who no longer have swallowing function can be given nasogastric feeding and intravenous hyperalimentation to maintain nutrition and electrolyte balance. For patients with respiratory difficulties or respiratory failure, oxygen supplementation can be administered. This can be combined with treatments such as acupuncture, physical therapy, massage, and heat application. It is important to prevent complications such as pulmonary infections, aspiration pneumonia, hypostatic pneumonia, lower extremity venous thrombosis, acute gastritis, gastric mucosal erosion, and gastrointestinal bleeding, which are common in later stages of ALS. With the loss of swallowing function and decreased immunity, these complications can occur more frequently and require proactive treatment to improve nutritional status.

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Written by Liu Hong Mei
Neurology
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Do people with ALS feel soreness and pain in their legs when lying down?

People with ALS often experience soreness and pain in their legs when lying down. In patients with ALS, certain neurons in the brain and spinal cord gradually degenerate and die, leading to muscle atrophy, nerve damage, muscle weakness, and stiffness, as if they are frozen. This muscle damage can lead to symptoms such as sore legs, general weakness, and fatigue. Over time, it may also cause difficulties in walking, speaking, eating, choking while drinking water, swallowing, and breathing. This can lead to systemic damage, complications like breathing difficulties, respiratory failure, and ultimately threaten life. The symptoms of leg pain and soreness in people with ALS, when lying down, can be alleviated through acupuncture, physical therapy, massage, and heat application.

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Written by Liu Hong Mei
Neurology
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Is it normal for someone with ALS to have severe swelling in their feet?

ALS patients with severe foot swelling is not normal. If an ALS patient experiences severe swelling of the feet, it is important to be cautious of the formation of blood clots in the lower limb vessels. The formation of venous blood clots can lead to poor blood circulation, easily causing blood stasis and thrombotic obstruction, leading to severe swelling of the feet. It is necessary to conduct a Doppler ultrasound of the lower limb vessels to assess their condition. Treatments may include anti-platelet aggregation, anticoagulation, promoting blood circulation to remove blood stasis, and providing nutritional support to nerves. Heat application, keeping warm, promoting lower limb blood circulation, acupuncture, physical therapy, massage, and heat application can be used as symptomatic treatments. For ALS patients with severe foot swelling, it is advisable to elevate the lower limbs during sleep, perhaps covering them with a blanket or elevating them about 45 degrees.