Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)

• ALS is a deteriorating progressive disease that attacks voluntary muscle movement.
• Clinical signs

  • first signs are writing difficulty, dropping things and tripping
  • Dysarthria
  • Muscle weakness
  • Hyperreflexia
  • Pain
  • Eventually respiratory compromise
• Nursing Interventions

  • Watch for falls
  • Reduce aspiration risk
  • Administer riluzole which reduces damage to motor neurons. It does not slow progression of the disease