Renowned British physicist and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) survivor Hawking turned seventy six on Monday, January 8, making him one amongst the longest living patients with the condition, conjointly called Motor Neurone Disease (MND) and Lou Gehrig's disease.
So, how has Hawking defied those odds by over fifty years?
Although life for many patients living with ALS is 3 years, with 100 percent of the folks suffering from the disease living up to ten years after diagnosing, and solely five-hitter living beyond twenty years of identification, Hawking is one amongst the few to have lived over half a century with ALS, states a report within the RareDr.
The notable scientist was diagnosed with ALS in 1963 once he was twenty one years old, according to Hawking.org. He was given simply 2 years to live by doctors, but, the scientist, who has lived nearly a full lifespan, defied those odds by more than fifty years now. whereas researchers are not precisely clear what's the reason behind his longevity, they believe it might be because of either his genetic makeup or early identification.
What is ALS?
ALS is a cluster of rare neurologic diseases that primarily involve the nerve cells (neurons) responsible for controlling voluntary muscle movement. it's a progressive disease, that means the symptoms worsen over time and limits somebody's ability to eat, breath, talk, and walk independently.
What are the signs and symptoms of ALS?
The initial symptoms of ALS can be quite varied in several individuals. However, early signs and symptoms of ALS typically include slurred speech, muscle weakness, tripping, dropping things, abnormal fatigue of the arms and/or legs, issue in chewing or swallowing, uncontrollable periods of happy or crying.
ALS is a common neuromuscular sickness worldwide, affecting individuals of all races and ethnic backgrounds. however men are slightly more likely than women to induce ALS. Generally, patients diagnosed with the disease are most typically between fifty five and seventy five years old.
Unfortunately, there's presently no cure for ALS and no effective treatment to halt, or reverse the progression of the sickness, though there are medications and therapy to assist slow the symptoms and reduce discomforts. And most people with the sickness die from respiratory failure - typically within three to five years from when the symptoms first appear – according to the National Institute of neurological Disorders and Stroke.
