Tomorrow is May 1st, (can you believe how quickly spring has flown by?), and that marks the beginning of ALS Awareness month.
Not many people know what ALS is. One of the MyWalkGear’s missions is to help spread awareness about a number of different diseases and causes that affect millions of people around the world. This month, we want to spotlight ALS and give you some insight as to what this disease is and what you can do to help spread the world.
ALS is a progress neurodegenerative disease that affects your brain and spinal cord. It causes the degeneration of motor neurons, which allow the brain to control and initiate muscle movement in the body, is what ultimately causes death in ALS. When motor neurons start to degenerate, they are unable to send impulses to muscle fibers that cause muscle movement. Early symptoms of ALS include muscle weakness in arms, legs, speech, swallowing and breathing. Voluntary muscle action becomes affected, and as a result, muscles that aren’t getting used to start to atrophy, limbs start shrinking, and in later phases, those with ALS could even become paralyzed.
There is no cure or specific treatment for ALS available at this time, but there is a prescription drug, riluzole, that slows down the progress of ALS throughout the body and allows those diagnosed with the disease to live a fuller life. There are also several clinical trials in progress designed to find a cure or treatment for the disease. Many ALS patients also undergo intensive therapy and use devices that help them live more independently and prolog survival.
This is a condition that nearly 5,600 Americans are diagnosed with each year. Only 5% of ALS patients live 20 years after their initial diagnosis. It’s a difficult and trying condition to live with for both the patients themselves and their loved ones. That’s why your support of this cause is so important!
This month, help fight ALS by participating in a walk, wearing an awareness bracelet or browsing our ALS Awareness merchandise and getting some for your walk team. A portion of the proceeds will go to the cause of your choice and you can help spread the word about ALS. The more people who are aware of this disease, the more people who will want to help!
Happy walking!
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