Why is it called Lou Gehrig's Disease?
Lou Gehrig was a hall of fame baseball player who played predominantly in the 1920s and 30s. His biggest claim to fame was playing in 2,130 consecutive games which gave him the nick name "The Iron Horse." In 1939, his last season, he was diagnosed with ALS and 2 years later died of the disease. Since He was such a large figure in American culture who died from the disease, it started to be called Lou Gehrig's Disease.
Is it contagious?
No, you cannot contract the disease from physical contact.
How many people in the United States (US) are diagnosed with ALS every year?
Approximately 5,600 people are diagnosed with ALS each year in the US. It is believed that at any given time, 30,000 people in the US will have the disease.
How long do you have to live with ALS?
This can vary greatly. Over half of all people affected, live more than three years after diagnosis. About twenty percent of people with ALS live five years or more and up to ten percent will survive more than ten years and five percent will live 20 years
Does any one have a higher chance of getting ALS?
ALS affects people across the world. Race, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status does not matter. It does seem to affect older people at a higher rate.
Lou Gehrig was a hall of fame baseball player who played predominantly in the 1920s and 30s. His biggest claim to fame was playing in 2,130 consecutive games which gave him the nick name "The Iron Horse." In 1939, his last season, he was diagnosed with ALS and 2 years later died of the disease. Since He was such a large figure in American culture who died from the disease, it started to be called Lou Gehrig's Disease.
Is it contagious?
No, you cannot contract the disease from physical contact.
How many people in the United States (US) are diagnosed with ALS every year?
Approximately 5,600 people are diagnosed with ALS each year in the US. It is believed that at any given time, 30,000 people in the US will have the disease.
How long do you have to live with ALS?
This can vary greatly. Over half of all people affected, live more than three years after diagnosis. About twenty percent of people with ALS live five years or more and up to ten percent will survive more than ten years and five percent will live 20 years
Does any one have a higher chance of getting ALS?
ALS affects people across the world. Race, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status does not matter. It does seem to affect older people at a higher rate.