Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells responsible for controlling voluntary muscle movement.

As the disease advances, symptoms of ALS in Females may start with an experience of difficulties with speaking, breathing, and overall mobility.

While there is no cure for ALS, treatments are focused on managing symptoms and slowing disease progression.

The disease was named after Lou Gehrig, a famous baseball player diagnosed with ALS in the 1920s and 1930s.

What is amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is a neurodegenerative condition that affects the nerve cells responsible for movement in the brain and spinal cord.

These cells coordinate voluntary muscle movement, such as those humans use to breathe, move arms and legs, speak, and chew.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) distorts the message a nerve cell sends to a muscle to move.

As a result of this poor communication, the muscle cannot move as desired.

With time, communication worsens and symptoms of the disease begin to appear, causing the body to tremble, and the patient’s movement and ability to chew and speak are affected.

It can lead to muscle atrophy, and the disease becomes life-threatening when it affects the ability to breathe.

Although there is no cure for ALS, the right combination of agents can slow the progression of the disease and improve the patient’s life and ability to rely on themselves for long periods.

Types of ALS

There are two types of ALS

Sporadic ALS: It represents 90% of cases affected by the disease and occurs randomly and is not linked to genetic factors.

Familial ALS: It occurs in 10% of cases and is transmitted through a genetic mutation.  (Verma, 2021)

Symptoms of ALS in Female

Symptoms of ALS in females include the following health problems:

• Muscle weakness, especially in the muscles of the arms, legs and neck.
• Muscle spasms.
• Numbness in the hands, feet, shoulders and tongue.
• Stuttering and difficulty forming words and sentences.
• Difficulties in swallowing.
• Drooling.
• Emotional fluctuations such as laughing or crying.
• Fatigue.

Symptoms start out mild and increase in severity over time.

The speed of disease progression varies from person to person.

The difference between Symptoms of ALS in Females and Males

Although there is no significant difference between the symptoms of ALS in women and men, there are some differences that can be explained as follows:

• The disease is diagnosed in men at a relatively younger age.
• In men, the disease develops relatively more quickly.
• In women, the disease first affects the muscles that control facial expressions, speech, and swallowing, or what is known as the bulbar onset.
• It appears in men by affecting the movement of the arms and legs, or what is known as Limb Onset.
• The pattern of genetic transmission In the hereditary type of the disease, also differs between men and women.

Early Signs of ALS in Females

Initial symptoms of ALS often involve muscle weakness and stiffness, which can manifest in two primary ways:

• Limb onset: Weakness primarily affects the muscles in your arms and legs.
• Bulbar onset: Difficulty arises in speaking, chewing, and swallowing.

It makes everyday tasks like writing or buttoning a shirt difficult.

You may also notice increased difficulty and time spent eating.

ALS Life Expectancy by Age

The life expectancy of people with ALS is about 2-5 years.

However, the matter varies greatly from one case to another. The famous scientist Stephen Hawking lived 55 years after being diagnosed with the disease.

In most cases, patients live longer than expected.

This depends on the following:

• Age at time of diagnosis.
• The speed of disease progression.
• Functions affected by the disease.
• The care the patient receives.

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How to Prevent ALS?

Unfortunately, there is currently no way to prevent ALS

However, modifying the lifestyle to become healthier can reduce the risk of contracting this disease and others, for example:

• Eat a healthy diet rich in vegetables, fruits, fibers, proteins and healthy fats.
• Exercising and strengthening muscles.
• Keep the mind active by learning and reading.
• Sleep for enough hours.
• Manage stress by practicing meditation and other techniques.
• Not smoking.
• Stay away from environmental pollutants as much as possible.

Causes of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

While the exact causes of the disease remain unclear, several key factors may contribute to its occurrence:

• Genetic factors: They appear in only 10% of cases, as the disease is associated with genetic mutations such as C9orf72 and SOD1.
• Environmental factors: especially exposure to pollutants such as mercury, lead, and pesticides.
• Military service: The incidence of the disease is high among veterans who participated in the Gulf War.

How to Test for ALS?

ALS is diagnosed through a group of tests, the most important of which are:

Neurological examinations such as:

• Muscle strength test.
• Knee and ankle reflexes test to measure tremor.
• Muscle Tone test to measure muscle stiffness and spasticity.
• Sensory Exam to measure the extent to which the body senses pain, temperature, etc.

Electromyography (EMG) test

This test measures electrical activity in the muscles to determine levels of nerve damage and muscle weakness.

Nerve Conduction Studies (NCS):

It is an examination that measures nerve functions by measuring the speed and strength of the nerve signal to measure the extent of damage.

Blood tests:

This is to exclude conditions that may share primary symptoms with those of ALS, such as thyroid disorders.

Magnetic resonance imaging:

To ensure that there is no damage to the nervous system or tumors causing the symptoms. (Štětkářová & Ehler , 2021)

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ALS Treatment and Management

Although there is currently no cure for ALS as neurodegeneration cannot be reversed, available treatments can slow the progression of the disease and allow the patient to live a better life and control symptoms.

Therefore, the medical team recommends that you follow a set of treatments for the following:

Drug treatment:

• Riluzole: It slows the progression of the disease, especially in the early stages.
• Edaravone: Slows the rate of functional decline in some cases.

Supportive Care:

As symptoms of ALS in females progress, supportive care becomes increasingly important:

• Respiratory therapy: includes non-invasive ventilation (NIV) and helping the patient breathe.
• Physical therapy: exercising muscles, maintaining movement and preventing contractures.
• Occupational therapy: training to perform daily life tasks and use assistive devices.
• Speech-language pathology: treating speech and swallowing difficulties.
• Nutritional support: Ensuring adequate nutrition, which can be done with feeding tubes.

References

Štětkářová , I., & Ehler , E. (2021). Diagnostics of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: Up to Date . PubbMed.

Verma, A. (2021). Clinical Manifestation and Management of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. National Library of Medicine.