Explaining the Early Symptoms of ALS

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by Wendy Henderson |

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In this University of California TV video, Dr. Geoffrey Sheean from the School of Medicine, UC San Diego, talks about the early stages of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

MORE: Explaining the progression of ALS

Dr. Sheean explains that often the first signs of the disease are a weakening or stiffness in either the patient’s hand or leg muscles, and that some patients begin to notice a difference in their speech such as slurring their words or having trouble forming certain words.

If the neck muscles are among the first to be affected by ALS, the patient could also present symptoms such as difficulty swallowing or chewing.

MORE: Could exercise help ALS patients with swallowing?

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