The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved several drugs for ALS that may prolong survival, reduce the rate of decline, or help manage symptoms. However, there is currently no known treatment that stops or reverses the progression of ALS.<\/span><\/p>\n[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.22.1″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.22.1″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”-1px|||||” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
Early symptoms include:<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n\n- Muscle twitches in the arm, leg, shoulder, or tongue<\/span><\/li>\n
- Muscle cramps<\/span><\/li>\n
- Tight and stiff muscles (spasticity)<\/span><\/li>\n
- Muscle weakness affecting an arm, a leg, or the neck<\/span><\/li>\n
- Slurred and nasal speech<\/span><\/li>\n
- Difficulty chewing or swallowing<\/span><\/li>\n
- As the disease progresses, muscle weakness and atrophy spread to other parts of your body.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
People with ALS may develop problems with:<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n\n- Chewing food and swallowing (dysphagia)<\/span><\/li>\n
- Drooling (sialorrhea)<\/span><\/li>\n
- Speaking or forming words (dysarthria)<\/span><\/li>\n
- Breathing (dyspnea)<\/span><\/li>\n
- Unintended crying, laughing, or other emotional displays (pseudobulbar symptoms)<\/span>
Constipation<\/span><\/li>\n- Maintaining weight and getting enough nutrients<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.22.1″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”#0C71C3″ custom_padding=”||0px|||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.22.1″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”-41px|auto||auto||” custom_padding=”2px|||||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.22.1″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.22.1″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
Eventually, people with ALS will not be able to stand or walk, get in or out of bed on their own, use their hands and arms, or breathe on their own. Because they usually remain able to reason, remember, and understand, they are aware of their progressive loss of function. This can cause anxiety and depression in the person with ALS and their loved ones. Although not as common, people with ALS also may experience problems with language or decision-making. Some also develop a form of dementia known as FTD-ALS.<\/span><\/p>\nMost people with ALS die from being unable to breathe on their own (known as respiratory failure,) usually within three to five years from when the symptoms first appear. However, about 10% survive for a decade or more.<\/span><\/p>\n[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.22.1″ _module_preset=”default” background_enable_color=”off” min_height=”415px” custom_margin=”-3px|||||” custom_padding=”22px||0px|||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ _builder_version=”4.22.1″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”-22px|auto||auto||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.22.1″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.22.1″ _module_preset=”default” background_enable_color=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
Diagnosing ALS<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\nIt is important to get an accurate ALS diagnosis as soon as possible. ALS treatments may be most effective early in the course of the disease. A neurologist familiar with ALS can help a person get diagnosed early after symptom onset.<\/span><\/p>\nThere is no single test that can definitely diagnose\u00a0ALS. A healthcare provider will conduct a physical exam and review the person\u2019s full medical history. A neurologic examination will test reflexes, muscle strength, and other responses. These tests should be performed at regular intervals to assess whether symptoms are getting worse over time.<\/span><\/p>\n[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.22.1″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.22.1″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
A healthcare provider may conduct muscle and imaging tests to rule out other diseases. This can help support an ALS diagnosis. These tests include:<\/span><\/p>\nElectromyography (EMG)\u2014evaluates how well nerves and muscles are functioning. This test can include:<\/span><\/p>\n\n- A nerve conduction study (NCS) \u2014 measures the electrical activity of nerves and muscles by assessing the nerve’s ability to send a signal along the nerve or to the muscle.<\/span><\/li>\n
- A needle exam \u2014 a recording technique that detects electrical activity in muscle fibers using a needle electrode.<\/span><\/li>\n
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) \u2014 uses a magnetic field and radio waves to produce detailed images of the brain and spinal cord.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.22.1″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”#0C71C3″ global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding=”||0px|||”][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ _builder_version=”4.22.1″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”-50px|auto||auto||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.22.1″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.22.1″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”-20px|||||” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
Treating ALS<\/span><\/strong><\/span>
There is no treatment to reverse damage to motor neurons or cure ALS at this time. However, some treatments may slow progression of the disease, improve quality of life, and extend survival. New treatments have become available in the past several years, and researchers continue to explore diverse avenues to slow or stop progression of ALS.<\/span><\/p>\nSupportive health care is best provided by integrated, multi-disciplinary teams of professionals that may include physicians, pharmacists, physical, occupational, speech, and respiratory therapists, nutritionists, social workers, clinical psychologists, and home care and hospice nurses. These teams can design an individualized treatment plan and provide special equipment aimed at keeping people as mobile, comfortable, and independent as possible.<\/span><\/p>\nA doctor may prescribe other medications or treatments to help manage symptoms, including muscle cramps and stiffness, excessive saliva and phlegm, and unwanted episodes of crying and\/or laughing, or other emotional displays. Medications may\u00a0also help with any pain, depression, sleep disturbances, or constipation.<\/span><\/p>\nDoctors may use the following medications approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to support a treatment plan for\u00a0ALS:<\/span><\/p>\n\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.22.1″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.22.1″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
\n- Riluzole<\/strong> (Rilutek) is an oral medication believed to reduce damage to motor neurons by decreasing levels of glutamate, which transports messages between nerve cells and motor neurons. Clinical trials in people with ALS showed that riluzole may prolong survival by a few months. The thickened liquid form (Tiglutik) or the tablet (Exservan) that dissolves on the tongue may be preferred if the person has swallowing difficulties.<\/span><\/li>\n
- Edaravone<\/strong> (Radicava) is an antioxidant given either orally or intravenously and has been shown to slow functional decline in some people with ALS. RADICAVA ORS is a form of edaravone that can be taken orally or via feeding tube.<\/span><\/li>\n
- Sodium phenylbutyrate\/taurursodiol<\/strong> (Relyvrio) is an oral medication that is believed to prevent nerve cell death by blocking stress signals in cells. It has been shown to slow functional decline and extend survival in some individuals with ALS.<\/span><\/li>\n
- Tofersen<\/strong> (Qalsody) is given through a spinal injection to ALS patients who have been determined to have a mutation in the SOD1 gene. While the benefits of this drug are still under study, it may work by decreasing one of the markers of damage to neurons.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
ALS BiologicsThe ALScell\u2122 (aka JadiCell\u2122) is unique in that it possesses features of mesenchymal stem cells, however, ALScells outperform these cells in terms of a) enhanced growth factor production; b) augmented ability to secrete exosomes; and c) superior angiogenic and neurogenic ability.According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), formerly known […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"\n
This is an example page. It's different from a blog post because it will stay in one place and will show up in your site navigation (in most themes). Most people start with an About page that introduces them to potential site visitors. It might say something like this:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Hi there! I'm a bike messenger by day, aspiring actor by night, and this is my website. I live in Los Angeles, have a great dog named Jack, and I like piña coladas. (And gettin' caught in the rain.)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
...or something like this:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The XYZ Doohickey Company was founded in 1971, and has been providing quality doohickeys to the public ever since. Located in Gotham City, XYZ employs over 2,000 people and does all kinds of awesome things for the Gotham community.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
As a new WordPress user, you should go to your dashboard<\/a> to delete this page and create new pages for your content. Have fun!<\/p>\n","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-2","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/alsbiologics.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/alsbiologics.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/alsbiologics.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alsbiologics.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alsbiologics.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2"}],"version-history":[{"count":30,"href":"https:\/\/alsbiologics.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":136,"href":"https:\/\/alsbiologics.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2\/revisions\/136"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/alsbiologics.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}