Fact 2. The Unseen Progression: The Clinical Onset of ALS
Unlike other neurological conditions with distinct onset symptoms, ALS commences subtly, often making its diagnosis challenging. The initial signs are easy to overlook as they often mimic those of more common and less serious conditions.
The symptoms typically start with muscle weakness, particularly in the arms, legs, or speech muscles. This weakness can cause difficulties in performing daily tasks such as walking, speaking, or swallowing. However, these symptoms are often attributed to aging or overwork, causing a delay in diagnosis.
As the disease progresses, the muscle weakness intensifies, leading to muscle atrophy. The affected person may experience increasing difficulty in moving, speaking, swallowing, and eventually breathing. As ALS predominantly affects the voluntary muscles, involuntary muscles and sensory functions are usually spared, at least in the early stages of the disease. (2)
