Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), or Lou Gehrig’s disease, is a nervous system disorder that affects the spinal cord and brain nerve cells. It is a degenerative condition that causes the loss of muscle control over time. ALS starts with symptoms that are often not quite noticeable initially. However, knowing these signs can help one seek timely medical assistance. Here are some early warning symptoms of ALS to watch out for.

1. Subtle changes in motor control of arms
As ALS progresses, weakness may develop in one of the hands or arms. Over time, patients may experience weakness in the other arm or hand. This may happen over a few weeks or months. Due to the increasing weakness in the arms and hands, it becomes difficult to do seemingly mundane tasks. One may find it harder to unlock a door or button a shirt. Also, they begin to drop stuff frequently.

2. Weakness in the legs
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis can affect the legs as well. In the beginning, only one of the legs may be affected. As a result, a person may frequently fall, stumble, or trip. Over time, as the other leg also becomes weak, it becomes difficult to walk.

3. Stiffness in muscles or spasticity
ALS causes upper-motor neuron degeneration. This results in an increase in muscle tone, specifically in the legs. Over time, the muscle starts to become stiff and tight. As stiffness sets in, it begins to affect the range of motion of the affected part. In some cases, the stiffness is so severe that it interferes with normal movement and impairs mobility.

4. Fasciculation
Fasciculation is a condition that causes muscle twitches and cramps. ALS comes on in the earlier stages and worsens over time as the disorder becomes more severe. In most cases, the muscle cramps are experienced during sleep. Generally, the feet and hands are affected. But in some cases, the tongue may also have cramps and twitches.

5. Onset of dysarthria
Dysarthria is a condition that causes speech to become slurred. Often, it is described by medical professionals as “thick” speech. This occurs as the muscles of the face weaken over time due to ALS. As a result, loss of sensation makes speech sound more nasal. Also, it becomes quite challenging to project one’s voice, and they end up talking in low tones.

6. Difficulty swallowing
Another common early warning symptom of ALS is dysphagia. It occurs due to the weakening of facial and tongue muscles. As muscles in the tongue and jaw lose their strength, it becomes difficult to move the food around in the mouth and clear out the sides of the mouth. Also, it becomes more challenging to chew foods such as chewy meat or apples. Sometimes, liquids may involuntarily spill out of the mouth because of muscle weakness in the lips.

7. Difficulty breathing
Also known as dyspnea, breathing difficulties are one of the less common early signs of ALS. The weakening of the respiratory muscles causes it. Because of this, one begins to experience frequent instances of shortness of breath. Breathing difficulties are particularly experienced when doing activities that require exertion.