Ive been seeing posts lately about how people think the ice bucket challenge is stupid/dumb/annoying/ etc. Its to raise awareness for people with ASL. If you dont know what ASL is then its called Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), sometimes called Lou Gehrigs disease, is a rapidly progressive, invariably fatal neurological disease that attacks the nerve cells responsible for controlling voluntary muscle action we are able to control, such as those in the arms, legs, and face. The disease belongs to a group of disorders known asmotor neuron diseases, which are characterized by the gradual degeneration and death of motor neurons. Motor neurons are nerve cells located in the brain, brain stem, and spinal cord that serve as controlling units and vital communication links between the nervous system and the voluntary muscles of the body. Messages from motor neurons in the brain called upper motor neurons are transmitted to motor neurons in the spinal cord called lower motor neurons and from them to particular muscles. In ALS, both the upper motor neurons and the lower motor neurons degenerate or die, and stop sending messages to muscles. Unable to function, the muscles gradually weaken, waste away, and have very fine twitches called fasciculations. Eventually, the ability of the brain to start and control voluntary movement is lost. ALS causes weakness with a wide range of disabilities. Eventually, all muscles under voluntary control are affected, and individuals lose their strength and the ability to move their arms, legs, and body. When muscles in the diaphragm and chest wall fail, people lose the ability to breathe without ventilatory support. Most people with ALS die from respiratory failure, usually within 3 to 5 years from the onset of symptoms.about 10 percent of those with ALS survive for 10 or more years. The ice bucket challenge has raised over $15 million and counting. Saying seeing posts about them is annoying,dumb,etc is like saying cancer is funny. Having ice cold water poured on you is what people with ASL go through everyday.
Posted on: Tue, 19 Aug 2014 21:25:08 +0000
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