ALS and Agent Orange awareness post
Note: I have dyslexia so if I write ASL anywhere in this post I actually meant ALS
ALS stands for Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and is also known as Lou Gehrig's disease. It is a disease that causes progressive deterioration of the nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord, causing loss of control in muscle movement.
The leading cause of death from those with ALS is respiratory failure, and other common causes of death are pneumonia and malnutrition.
The causes of ALS are heredity, age, genetics, smoking, Environmental toxin exposure, military service, and the chemical Agent Orange.
The first signs of ALS are muscle twitches, weakness in a limb, and/or slurred speech.
ALS eventually affects control of the muscles needed to move, speak, eat, and breathe.
Difficulty walking or doing normal daily activities
Weakness in your leg, feet or ankles
Hand weakness or clumsiness
Slurred speech or trouble swallowing
Muscle cramps and twitching in your arms, shoulders and tongue
Inappropriate crying, laughing or yawning
Cognitive and behavioral changes
There is no cure, and medications do not reverse the damage done by ALS, but can slow the progression of the disease.
Agent Orange was a chemical used by the U.S military in the vietnam war as a tactical way to kill vegetation. It was named by the orange band around the storage barrel.
~Other Veteran Diseases associated with Agent Orange~
A rare disease caused when an abnormal protein, amyloid, enters tissues or organs
A type of cancer which affects white blood cells
ChloracneĀ (or similar acneform disease)
A skin condition that occurs soon after exposure to chemicals and looks like common forms of acne seen in teenagers. Under VA's rating regulations, it must be at least 10 percent disabling within one year of exposure to herbicides.
A disease characterized by high blood sugar levels resulting from the bodyās inability to respond properly to the hormone insulin
A malignant lymphoma (cancer) characterized by progressive enlargement of the lymph nodes, liver, and spleen, and by progressive anemia
A disease characterized by a reduced supply of blood to the heart, that leads to chest pain
A cancer of plasma cells, a type of white blood cell in bone marrow
A group of cancers that affect the lymph glands and other lymphatic tissue
A progressive disorder of the nervous system that affects muscle movement
Peripheral Neuropathy, Early-Onset
A nervous system condition that causes numbness, tingling, and motor weakness. Under VA's rating regulations, it must be at least 10 percent disabling within one year of herbicide exposure.
A disorder characterized by liver dysfunction and by thinning and blistering of the skin in sun-exposed areas. Under VA's rating regulations, it must be at least 10 percent disabling within one year of exposure to herbicides.
Cancer of the prostate; one of the most common cancers among men
Respiratory CancersĀ (includes lung cancer)
Cancers of the lung, larynx, trachea, and bronchus
Soft Tissue SarcomasĀ (other than osteosarcoma, chondrosarcoma, Kaposi's sarcoma, or mesothelioma)
A group of different types of cancers in body tissues such as muscle, fat, blood and lymph vessels, and connective tissues
Why am I posting about this?
Well, my grandfather sadly passed last night, and he was a vietnam war veteran. He suffered from ALS and was exposed to Agent Orange, and I felt the need to make this awareness post in honor of him and what he's been through.
If I didn't tag any triggers please let me know and I'll add those tags
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