The news of the death of the popular “evil” of the “Five” series scattered in the Panhellenic. Gerasimou Michelis. His serious health adventure has been treated over the last few years with great dignity by himself, but also discretion by his colleagues and media.
Today, however, Actor Michalis Economou, with a moving post on social media revealed that beloved actor Gerasimos Michelis was suffering from rare disease of lateral amyo -nutrition or muscular sclerosis – ALS.
It is the degenerative disease known worldwide through the great astrophysicist Steven Hawking.
What is ALS (Slope Amyatrophic Sclerosis)
Salvian muscular sclerosis, known internationally as ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis), or informal “Steven Hawking” disease, belongs to the most severe forms of neurodegenerative diseases that affect the motor nervous system. This disease is characterized by the gradual destruction of nerve cells that control voluntary movements, both in the brain and spinal cord.
The damage to these nerve cells is fatal for muscle function, with the result that muscles are weakened and paralyzed.
Als sufferers are experiencing a progressive weakness throughout the body, which ultimately leads to the loss of the ability for movement, speech, swallowing and breathing, as the brain is now unable to control the relevant muscles.
Who are offended by ALS
The disease usually appears between 40 and 70 years, with an average diagnosis of 55 years. However, cases have been recorded in individuals of even 20 or 30 years.
Men appear to be more frequently affected (over 20% more than women), however, with age, this difference is significantly reduced.
90% of cases there is no known hereditary background or recognized genetic mutation. The remaining 10% are familial forms of the disease, associated with mutated genes.
Remarkable – and still inexplicable – is the fact that army veterans show increased ALS rates over the general population.
The first signs
ALS appears sneaky, with mild and varied first symptoms. To some, it can start with indigestion: an object falling from the hand, difficulty in writing, or inability to keep a mug. Others may find changes in voice articulation or problems with swallowing.
Symptoms can start from the extremities, from the muscles associated with speech or ingestion – and never appear in the same way or the same order to everyone. The common thread that connects all incidents is progressive muscle weakness and inevitable paralysis.
Initially symptoms may be:
- Frequent falls
- Objects falling out of hands
- Unexplained muscle fatigue
- Speech difficulty
- Muscle cramps and convulsions
- Uncontrolled outbursts of laughter or crying
The development of illness
ALS progresses quickly, though not necessarily at a steady pace. In some periods, the deterioration may slow down or temporarily stabilize.
ALS drastically reduces life expectancy: Most patients live 2 to 5 years after diagnosis. However, 20% survives for at least 5 years, 10% more than decade, while a small 5% lives 20 years or more.
A typical example is Steven Hawking, who was diagnosed with ALS at 21 and lived until 76, breaking up any prediction.
Source: iatropedia.gr