Contents:
- Medical Video: How Stephen Hawking Lived So Long With ALS
- What is ALS, what is Stephen Hawking's disease?
- Signs and symptoms of ALS
- What causes ALS disease?
- ALS is a condition that cannot be cured, but can be controlled
Medical Video: How Stephen Hawking Lived So Long With ALS
The famous British scientist Stephen Hawking died on Wednesday, March 14, 2018. Stephen Hawking was the only person with ALS (Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) disease who managed to survive to the age of 76 years. Yes, the ALS that Stephen Hawking suffered since he was 21 years old is a disease with a life expectancy that is not too large. In fact, people who are diagnosed with ALS disease generally only have a life expectancy of around 3-5 years after the disease develops.
So what exactly is ALS disease? Why are the life expectancies of people with rare diseases not large? Find out about the sores of ALS suffered by Stephen Hawking below.
What is ALS, what is Stephen Hawking's disease?
ALS is a disorder of the motor nerves or nerve cells in the brain and spine that regulates the movement of the lurik muscles (muscles that are driven by their own volition). ALS stands for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. This condition occurs when the nervous system where certain cells (neurons) in the brain and bone marrow die slowly.
These cells send messages from the brain and bone marrow to the muscles. Mild muscle problems appear at first, but slowly the person will become paralyzed, as does Stephen Hawking. Some people have experienced ALS for several years. In the end the muscle will stop working. This disease is also called Lou Gehrig's disease, named after a famous baseball player from the United States died of this ALS disease.
There are two types of ALS disease:
- Top motor neurons: Nerve cells in the brain.
- Lower motor neurons: Nerve cells in the spinal cord.
This motor neuron controls all reflex or spontaneous movements in the muscles of your arms, legs and face. The motor neuron also functions to tell your muscles to contract so you can walk, run, lift light objects around, chew and swallow food, and even breathe.
Signs and symptoms of ALS
The appearance of signs and symptoms of ALS is usually gradual, so the first time you feel symptoms, you may not be aware of the severity of the condition. The signs and symptoms of ALS are:
- The muscle of one of the arms or legs weakens
- Speaking is not clear
- Weakened muscles slowly spread to both hands and feet and other body parts
- Back and neck muscles weaken, making the head bowed weakly
- Muscle tissue loss (atrophy)
- The tongue twitches
- Paralyzed (unable to move, talk, eat and swallow, and breathe)
What causes ALS disease?
ALS is an event that is still being researched by experts. The cause is unknown and about 90 percent of cases occur sporadically. In about 10 percent of people, this disease is passed on to family members. Scientists also suspect an imbalance of glutamate levels in the body and autoimmune diseases as a cause of ALS disease. Please note, ALS is a non-communicable disease.
However, the risk of someone experiencing ALS like Stephen Hawking will increase if someone:
- Have a history of ALS in the family
- 40-60 years old
- In the age group <65 years, men are more at risk of developing ALS than women
- Smoking or frequent exposure to cigarette smoke (passive smoking)
- Impact injury
ALS is a condition that cannot be cured, but can be controlled
Yes, ALS is a condition that cannot be completely cured. The treatment given by the doctor only aims to control symptoms and support the patient as long as possible. One remedy is riluzole, which may prolong life and in some people might slow the progression of ALS, but the effect is limited.
Other drugs may help control the symptoms of seizures, difficulty swallowing, cramps, constipation, pain, and depression. The stomach hose may be used to feed if the patient is choking. Nutritionists play a role in helping prevent weight loss. Education and counseling are also important to help calm the psychological condition of someone who has ALS.
Physical, occupational and speech therapy can help patients remain strong and independent. Tools such as tongs, metal legs, wheelchairs and breathing machines are also needed during the treatment period. In the next stage, the main goal is to provide comfort to the condition of people who have ALS disease.
It should be noted, the case of ALS in Stephen Hawking who managed to survive more than 50 years from the first time diagnosed is very rare. However, that does not mean this is impossible. Always consult with your doctor for the best care and make sure the closest people always accompany the patient, both mentally and physically.
