What to do with ALS? Is there a cure for ALS?

ALS is medically known as motor neuron disease, which is caused by motor nerve damage, including upper motor neuron damage and lower motor neuron damage, which is manifested as muscle weakness, atrophy and quadriplegia throughout the body. Physical examination may reveal muscle weakness, muscle atrophy, and fasciculations, as well as tendon hyperreflexia and positive pathological reflexes. Because the pathogenesis is not yet clear, there is no particularly good way.

Nutritional support is mainly given**, and if the patient has difficulty swallowing and chewing, nasogastric feeding or gastrostomy surgery can be performed. If the respiratory muscles are paralyzed, a tracheostomy should be done as soon as possible to maintain breathing with a ventilator. At present, there is an internationally recognized drug called Lirutai, which can be used for ALS, which has a certain delaying effect on the progression of ALS.

If you have ALS, go to the neurology department to ask the doctor to do a physical examination to see if there is muscle atrophy, and if necessary, do electromyography to clarify the target** after diagnosis. If the symptoms are caused by psychiatric factors, they can be taken orally with drugs that regulate the nerves**. ALS is a disease related to genetic diseases, the course of the disease is relatively slow, and there is usually a family history.

ALS is also known as motor neuron disease, the latter name is commonly used in the United Kingdom, Charcot disease in France, and Lou Gehray disease in the United States. In China, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and motor neuron disease are commonly mixed. It is caused by damage to the upper and lower motor neurons, resulting in gradual weakness and atrophy of the muscles including the bulbar (the bulbar refers to the part of the muscles innervated by the medulla), limbs, trunk, chest and abdomen.

The condition of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is still unknown. In 20% of cases, it may be related to heredity or genetic defects. In addition, some environmental factors, such as heavy metal poisoning, can cause motor neuron damage. The main theories of the causes of motor neuron damage are:

1. Neurotoxic substances accumulate, glutamate accumulates between nerve cells, and over time, causes damage to nerve cells.

2. Free radicals damage nerve cell membranes.

3. Lack of nerve growth factor makes it impossible for nerve cells to continue to grow and develop.

Extended Materials. For ALS, there are four core points.

1. Ensure adequate nutrition.

Difficulty swallowing may result in a decrease in the amount of food to eat, and the already fragile motor neurons will be "not able to eat" and will be lost even more. Gastrostomy surgery (i.e., placing a tube in place in the abdomen to address the patient's nutritional concerns) may be considered when the patient has dysphagia and the general condition is acceptable, but it is difficult to complete if the procedure is delayed until the body is extremely weak.

2. Ensure breathing.

Weakness in the muscles responsible for breathing can make it difficult for people to breathe. Depending on the test of lung function, a noninvasive ventilator may be used to help with breathing and also help prolong survival.

3. Give drugs**.

At present, many drugs are still being investigated, and riluzole has been shown to prolong patient survival and should be used as soon as the diagnosis is confirmed.

4. Meticulous care.

The care of motor neuron disease can be described as a "long-term war of attrition", in which patients have no strength to cough up sputum, difficulty swallowing, easy to choke and cause pneumonia, inability to turn over and cause pressure ulcers, and huge psychological pressure, all of which require careful care to avoid as much as possible. Nursing care is one of the most important aspects of this disease. It is worth mentioning that ALS does not need to be overworked, because overworking the muscles will increase the burden on motor neurons.