pathological condition medical abbreviation

Exercise, in moderation, may help maintain muscle strength and function.

Some medicines, and heat or whirlpool therapy may help relieve muscle cramping. How is ALS treated?įor most people with ALS, the main treatment may involve the management of symptoms, This may include physical, occupational, speech, respiratory, and nutritional therapies. Most people with ALS die from respiratory failure. Movement of the diaphragm for breathing is also impaired. In time, you will need help with personal care, eating, and mobility. Over a period of 3 to 5 years, the disease will progress, making voluntary movements of arms and legs impossible. Your doctor inserts electrodes into the muscle, or places them on the skin overlying a muscle or muscle group to record electrical activity and muscle responses. These studies evaluate and diagnose disorders of the muscles and motor neurons. This procedure uses large magnets, radiofrequencies, and a computer to produce detailed images of organs and structures within the body.Įlectrodiagnostic tests, such as electromyography (EMG) and nerve conduction study (NCS). This test uses invisible electromagnetic energy beams to produce images of internal tissues, bones, and organs onto film. CSF is the fluid that bathes the brain and spinal cord. Your doctor will remove a small amount of cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) and test it for an infection or other problems. There he or she can measure the pressure in the spinal canal and brain. In this test, your doctor places a special needle into the lower back, into the area around the spinal cord. Spinal tap (also called a lumbar puncture). In this procedure, your doctor removes a sample of tissue or cells from the body and examines it under a microscope. These include blood and urine studies and thyroid functioning tests. Your healthcare provider will consider your medical history and symptoms and will do certain tests to rule out other conditions including: There is no specific test to diagnose ALS. Always see your healthcare provider for a diagnosis. The symptoms of ALS may look like other conditions or medical problems. Slurred or thick speech and trouble in projecting the voiceĪs the disease progresses, symptoms may include: Uncontrollable periods of laughing or crying Impairment in the use of the arms and legs Loss of motor control in the hands and arms Twitching and cramping of muscles, especially those in the hands and feet These are the most common symptoms of ALS:

Sometimes the initial problem can be one of slurred speech or trouble swallowing.Īs ALS progresses, though, more and more symptoms are noticed. Then, several weeks to months later, weakness develops in another limb. With ALS, you may first have weakness in a limb that develops over a matter of days or, more commonly, a few weeks. ALS research is looking into possible environmental causes of ALS. This form of ALS affects a small amount of people and is thought to be inherited.Įxperts do not know the cause of ALS. These cases occur randomly, without any known cause, and there is no family history of ALS. This is the most common form of ALS in the U.S., making up 90% to 95% of all cases.

Currently, there is no cure for this disease.ĪLS most commonly affects people of any racial or ethnic group between the ages of 40 and 70, although it can occur at a younger age. ALS it is one of the most devastating of the disorders that affects the function of nerves and muscles.ĪLS does not affect mental functioning or the senses (such as seeing or hearing), and it is not contagious. It's often called Lou Gehrig's disease, after a famous baseball player who died from the disease. It is characterized by progressive degeneration of nerve cells in the spinal cord and brain. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is a fatal type of motor neuron disease.

Pathological condition medical abbreviation