Motor Neurons monitor some crucial activities of a human beings which include walking, swallowing, breathing and speaking. In Motor Neuron disease, motor neurons are damaged by a neurological disorder and this ultimately results in the weakening of muscles.
This disease is known as ALS i.e. amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, in United States . People between the age group of fifty and seventy are susceptible to this disease. It has been observed that men are generally affected by this disease rather than the women.
Causes of Motor Neuron Disease
The exact cause of Motor Neuron disease is not pinpointed yet. Some practitioners believe that this is directly caused by inheritance genetic disorder. Nerve damage is another reason of this disease. Excessive presence of glutamate, which is a crucial chemical messenger of nervous system, can also cause this disease.
Nerve signals are transmitted at a rapid speed by getting assistance from glutamate. But the excessive presence glutamate of this can hamper the entire thing by accelerating the transmission of signal. Spinal cord and brain can be damaged in this situation which is obviously the prominent signs of this disease.
Types of Motor Neuron Disease
Motor Neuron disease can be divided into several types. Primary lateral sclerosis, pseudobulbar palsy, progressive bulbar palsy and progressive muscular atrophy are some of the common and well known types of this disease. Spinal muscular atrophy is sometimes considered as a type of this ailment but some scientists don’t agree with this view.
Symptoms Motor Neuron Disease
Muscle weakness is one of the prominent symptoms of Motor Neuron disease. Transmission of chemical message usually monitors the normal movement of the muscles in human body. This transmission is monitored by some crucial cells. But in this disease, these muscles are either damaged or dead.
This is the reason why sporadic movements in muscles can be noticed if a person is suffering from this disease. The muscles of arms, legs and hands are affected by this disease at the initial stage. A person, who is affected by this disease, may lose his control.
Cramps in affected muscles may occur and sometimes these muscles become stiff and rigid. If the situation is aggravated one can face some difficulties while getting up from chair or climbing stairs.
Throat muscles can also be affected in this disease. Therefore, one may face some troubles while swallowing food. This can lead to chest infection. Speech of a patient can also be affected by this disease.
Neck muscles can lose their strength and this is the reason why some people face some problems while keeping their head steady. One can face severe breathing problem and sometimes it can bring some harmful consequences for example: respiratory failure. A patient who is affected by this disease can feel that his physical condition is deteriorating day by day and this is the worse part of this disease.
Treatment For Motor Neuron Disease
Though Motor Neuron disease is not absolutely curable, some treatment procedures have been developed to reduce the severity of the symptoms of this disease. Sometimes doctors suggest Occupational therapy for stopping the aggression of these symptoms.
It has been observed that, two patients suffering from Motor Neuron disease may not response similarly when a treatment is applied on them. That’s why a patient needs to be treated with a custom-made treatment so that it can generate better result.
The flexibility of the muscle can be brought back by treating a patient with Physiotherapy. If a patient is facing problems in speaking, speech therapy can help a patient to recuperate from this symptom of this disease.
As this disease can bring mental depression, antidepressant medications may be applied to deal with this problem. Mental support can assist a patient to over come depression. Local supports can also help a patient to fight effectively with this disease.
Advice:
As Motor Neuron disease is associated with diverse types of symptoms, a patient may be treated with multiple therapists to reduce the severity of symptoms. Dieticians, neurologists, palliative care specialists, respiratory therapists are some of the well known practitioners whose help a patient may need if he is affected by this lethal disease.
