Lou Gehrig’s disease is another name for Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). It is a progressive condition that affects the nerve cells controlling voluntary muscles, leading to weakness and loss of muscle function over time.
The key challenge with ALS is that early symptoms are often subtle and easy to overlook.
🧠 First symptoms of ALS (early warning signs)
1) Muscle weakness (usually in one limb first)
- Weak grip
- Trouble lifting objects
- Dropping things more often
- Weakness in one hand, arm, or leg
2) Muscle twitching (fasciculations)
- Small, involuntary muscle twitches
- Often in arms, legs, or tongue
- Can happen at rest
3) Slurred speech (early bulbar symptoms)
- Speech becomes softer or unclear
- Trouble pronouncing words
- Voice may sound nasal or strained
