What is ALS or Lou Gehrig’s Disease?
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is a rapidly progressive, neuromuscular disease. It attacks the motor neurons that transmit electrical impulses from the brain to the voluntary muscles in the body. When these muscles fail to receive messages, they lose strength, atrophy and die. ALS can hit anyone at any, time regardless of age, gender, or ethnic origin. The average life expectancy after diagnosis is 3 to 5 years. • ALS does not affect the senses; only rarely does it affect the mind • In 90% of cases, it strikes people with no family history of the disease • Equipment costs for each patient average $137,000; nursing and home care costs can be up to 10 times this amount. Ever wonder what Lou Gehrig’s Disease did to Lou Gehrig? Many years ago, Lou Gehrig was known as professional baseball’s “Ironman.” Strength, agility, excellent health Lou—Gehrig had everything it took to become a baseball legend. But Lou Gehrig had something else. At the peak of his career, he was diagnosed as havin
