Topic: ALS Disease and Ice Bucket Challenge
People usually are not even aware of the name of ALS disease; there is no awareness of this disease among people. ALS stands for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. ALS is a neurodegenerative disease that is rapidly progressive, and it eventually leads to death from respiratory failure. The disease was named ALS by Lou Gehrig, who had ALS, so the disease is also generally known as Lou Gehrig's disease.
Symptoms:
The common and early symptoms of this disease include weakness in the hands or feet, muscle twitching and trouble in swallowing or talking. Contact to heavy metal increases the risk of developing this disease, but this is less common.
Cure:
At present there is no proper cure for ALS and certainly no treatment. The riluzole is the only medicine recommended for ALS, this medicine can increase the time period of the patient's life for about three to four months. Patients suffering from ALS are in need of a proper cure. There is a need for useful medication for the patients, which can help them to fight this disease.
ALS can be either be periodic or genetic, and more genes are being recognized as likely causes of ALS. The fact is that a person can have the ALS mutation genes, but certainly not get ALS while a person without any particular gene can be prompted to this disease. Men are 25% more expected to be diagnosed at an earlier age than women, but men and women suffer in equal numbers while they are in their 50's.
Ice bucket challenge:
The Ice Bucket Challenge has been widespread in the nation and is gaining viral popularity on Facebook and other popular social networking sites. Many people have accepted the challenge with an open heart, including numerous celebrities. The ALS Ice Bucket Challenge is an action where the contestants dumps a bucket of ice cold water on their head in order to encourage people and increase the awareness of ALS and it is meant to get more donations for research.
As celebrities can put a great impact and mindfulness on people, the notion of creating such a challenge arose. Every time a particular celebrity performs this challenge, the chances of other celebrities doing the same increases. It is seen that fund raising increases when celebrities perform the task.
Purpose of ice:
This a common question which arises in the mind of people that why ice is used for the challenge? Actually, the chilly feeling of icy water dropping on top of someone momentarily imitates the amount of pain that a person with ALS feels.
This is the general perception about the people suffering from ALS and the research carried out for their care and treatment.
