== Symptoms ==
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) – also referred to as motor neurone disease in some British Commonwealth countries and as Lou Gehrig's disease in the United States – is a debilitating disease with varied etiology characterized by rapidly progressive weakness, muscle atrophy and fasciculations, muscle spasticity, difficulty speaking (dysarthria), difficulty swallowing (dysphagia), and difficulty breathing (dyspnea). ALS is the most common of the five motor neuron diseases.
==Risk Factors==
*Smoking : Smoking cigarettes has been shown to increase a person's risk of ALS to almost twice that of a nonsmoker!
*Lead exposure : Some evidence suggests that repeated exposure to lead in the workplace may be associated with the development of ALS.
This is especially true of people who work with various types of lead pipes, road paving, newspapers, paints and ceramics.
* High glutamate levels : People with ALS typically have higher than normal levels of glutamate, an amino acid that’s used as a chemical messenger (neurotransmitter) in the brain.
At normal levels, glutamate is helpful, but in excess, it can trigger cell apoptosis (death)—in this case, death of nerve cells. In addition to being seen at high levels in people with ALS, elevated glutamate is also seen in the brain cells of people with Alzheimer’s disease, brain injuries, AIDS and cancer.
One of the most common sources of glutamate intake is the food additive/flavor enhancer MSG (monosodium glutamate)—found not only in Chinese food but also chips, sauces, burgers, salad dressings, bouillon cubes and gravies. Studies have suggested that too much MSG causes excessive brain cell excitation which can then lead to cell death.
* Autoimmunity : Although ALS has not been formally categorized as an autoimmune disease, inappropriate immune responses (i.e.: an immune system attacking healthy cells in the body) nonetheless are still suspected as playing a role in ALS.
* Aluminum exposure : Aluminum is particularly harmful to the nervous system—it binds to the brain and has been linked to the “plaques” found in Alzheimer’s patients. Well, it’s now linked to ALS too. A recent study has shown that injected aluminum (such as with vaccinations, especially flu shots) triggered ALS in male mice. Links were also made to the development of autism and ASIA - Autoimmune (auto-inflammatory) Syndrome.
== Home remedies ==
* [[Alpha Linolenic Acid (ALA)]] : omega-3 fatty acids helps when it comes to lowering ALS risk. Both marine and plant n-3s were effective in preventing ALS… But plant-based alpha linolenic acid (ALA) had the advantage.