Hypoxia and Medicine

Can you please summarize this... in English?

OK, I am supposed to be doing research on some topics, but, medical websites like to use humongous words... I was wondering if any doctors or anyone could translate this into language a 14 y/o would understand... Or, can you please just give me the gist of each paragraph? Thanks! Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a disease of unknown cause characterized by slowly progressive degeneration of upper motor neurons (UMNs) and lower motor neurons (LMNs). The UMN findings include hyperreflexia and spasticity. They result from degeneration of the lateral corticospinal tracts in the spinal cord. The LMN findings include weakness, atrophy, and fasciculations. They are a direct consequence of muscle denervation. ALS is eventually fatal because of respiratory muscle weakness. Aspiration pneumonia and medical complications of immobility contribute to morbidity. _________________________________________________ Lower motor neuron signs include weakness, atrophy, fasciculations, and depressed reflexes. Fasciculations are observed with the muscle at rest. Upper motor neuron signs include an upper motor neuron pattern of weakness (greatest in the extensors of the arm and flexors of the leg), spastic bulbar and limb muscles, hyperreflexia, and extensor plantar responses. A hyperreflexic jaw jerk helps to confirm upper motor neuron involvement causing dysarthria and dysphagia. Tendon reflexes are paradoxically brisk. In patients with pseudobulbar palsy, emotional incontinence may cause the patient to over-react to sad or funny things. The patient is aware of the lack of control. Cognitive impairment, if present, most often is observed in patients with bulbar involvement. Muscle cramps are common for patients with lower motor neuron involvement, while patients with upper motor neuron dysfunction can have clonus or painful extensor spasms. Ocular, sensory, or autonomic dysfunction occurs only very late in the disease course, usually in patients living with ventilatory support. The key finding in an involved limb is the combination of lower and upper motor neuron dysfunction with a weak, atrophic, fasciculating muscle occurring in combination with increased tone and hyperreflexia. * Lower motor neuron signs include atrophy and fasciculations. * Upper motor neuron (ie, corticospinal tract) signs include spasticity and hyperactive tendon reflexes and may include the Babinski sign. * No loss of anal sphincter tone occurs. Cardiac and smooth muscle are not involved. * The course is progressive, and initial symptoms primarily are those of weakness. * Weakness often is asymmetric and begins in the legs, arms, or oropharyngeal muscles with approximately equal frequency. Masticatory weakness occurs late. Ultimately, weakness becomes symmetrical. * Ocular musculature is not involved. * Muscle atrophy and weight loss almost always are recognized by the time the patient seeks medical treatment. * Fasciculations may be quite widespread and active. Surprisingly, the patient often ignores this symptom. * Patients may have inappropriately active tendon reflexes and weak, wasted, twitching muscles. * Muscle cramps are common. * Dysarthria, exaggeration of motor expressions, and emotional lability (pseudobulbar affect) may occur when the disease process involves the corticobulbar projections to the brainstem. * Decubitus ulcers are rare. * Hypoxia or cardiac arrhythmias are the most common cause of death in patients with ALS. The primary cause of death among patients electing to use ventilatory support is pulmonary infection.

Public Comments

1. You might want to find a site easier for the layman (not just a 14 year old!) to follow. Here is one, that includes a link to an interactive tutorial: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/amyotrophiclateralsclerosis.html