ALS Awareness (Mental Health Awareness)

Hello All!

Hope you are having a good day/ morning/ afternoon/ evening <3

With it being Mental Health Awareness Week I have taken the time to collect some information on ALS for you all to read. I have also included some questions at the end to get you thinking :P

If you have any other knowledge you wish to share this is a safe and educational place to do so.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a type of motor neuron disease. It refers to a group of progressive, neurological diseases that cause dysfunction in the nerves that control muscle movement.

This leads to muscle weakness and changes in how the body works. In the later stages, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) affects the nerves that control breathing, and this can be fatal. ALS is the most common type of motor neuron disease (MND).

It is sometimes called Lou Gehrigs disease, after the famous baseball player who had the condition. The 2014 Ice Bucket Challenge aimed to raise awareness and funds for research. (Did you take part?)

Unfortunately ALS is a fatal illness and here are some facts why...

ALS affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord, leading to muscle weakness, a loss of motor function, paralysis, breathing problems, and, eventually, death.

Most people with ALS will live between 3 and 5 years after symptoms appear.

The exact cause is unknown, but environmental and genetic factors may be involved.

There is currently no cure, and treatment aims to relieve symptoms, provide social and emotional support, and possibly slow disease progression.

Questions…

Do you know anyone who experiences ALS? Did you know about ALS before seeing this post?

What can you do to support someone with ALS?

How can we continue to raise awareness for ALS?

Are there any relaxation and coping techniques that help manage the symptoms of ALS?

I hope that this has been helpful and enlightened someone out there <3

Stay Strong

Joy <3