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.
Frequently Asked Questions about ALS
Q. What are the early symptoms of ALS?
A. ALS usually becomes apparent either in the legs, the arms, the throat or the upper chest area. Some people begin to trip and fall, some lose the use of their hands and arms, some find it hard to swallow and some slur their speech.
Q. How do you "catch" ALS? And what does it do?
A. ALS cannot be "caught" - it is not contagious. In 90% of ALS cases, it strikes people with no family history of the disease. 10% of cases are classified as familial or inherited ALS. It may occur at any age, with the likelihood increasing as people grow older; however, many are struck down in the prime of life.
Since the disease frequently takes its toll before being positively diagnosed, many patients are debilitated before learning they have ALS. The disease does not affect the senses - taste, touch, sight, smell and hearing, and only rarely does it affect the mind. ALS wreaks a devastating effect on patients as well as their families. As they struggle to cope with the prospect of advancing disability and death, ALS may consume their financial, physical and emotional resources. It is a costly disease in its later stages, demanding both expensive nursing care and equipment.
Q. What needs to be done to beat ALS?
A. Although recent research has resulted in significant breakthroughs, more is needed to find a cure, but research costs money.
Q. Is there hope for people with ALS?
A. Yes, thanks to recent advances in research and drug therapies.
Q. What is the ALS Society of BC?
A. Established in 1981, the Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Society of BC is a non-profit society. It was founded by ALS patients, their family members and health care professionals, to meet the physical and emotional needs of those living with ALS and their caregivers.
Q. What does the Society do?
A. The ALS Society of BC raises funds for both research and to provide direct services and support to those currently living with ALS.
Until a cure is found, the Society provides patient services to help improve the quality of life of those diagnosed with this disease by offering an extensive equipment loan program, support groups and educational materials.
Patients are referred to the Society by neurologists and other health care professionals, particularly those at the ALS Centre at G.F. Strong Rehabilitation Centre. Working together as partners, G.F. Strong Team and the Society are dedicated to enhancing each patient's quality of life.
There is no cost to register for ALS patients or to access our services.
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Q. Why is ALS sometimes referred to as Lou Gehrig's Disease?
A. 
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.
At the peak of his career, he was diagnosed as having Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), and sadly died 2 years later, at age 39.