People with ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis) or fatal disease that attacks nerve cells, usually only able to survive 2 to 5 years after the onset of symptoms. But Stephen Hawking could live longer today sentenced to 70 years after ALS.
ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease or motor neuron disease (MND) is a disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord that cause muscle weakness and atrophy.
This disease causes the death of motor neurons, which means that the brain loses the ability to control muscle movement. When muscles in the diaphragm and chest wall fail, patients will lose the ability to breathe without ventilatory support.
Stephen William Hawking was born in Oxford, England, grew up near the city of London and a Bachelor's degree from Oxford University in 1962 with honors.
However, at the age of 21 years, he was sentenced to suffer from ALS disease that made him sit in a wheelchair until now without being able to move at all.
This disease started when he had trouble tying shoes that made him realize there is something wrong with her body.
About 1 in 10 cases the cause of ALS is considered because of genetics, but the trigger to 90 percent of other cases remains a mystery.
Scientists supported by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) found that mutations in the gene that produces the enzyme SOD1 (superoxide dismutase 1) is associated with some cases of ALS. This enzyme is a powerful antioxidant that protects the body from damage caused by free radicals.
Early symptoms of ALS may be very subtle and often overlooked, such as twitching, cramps (muscle stiffness), arm or leg muscle weakness, slurred speech or difficulty chewing and swallowing.
Advanced symptoms such as difficulty breathing and paralysis. Death is usually caused by a failure on the respiratory muscles.
ALS does not affect one's ability to see, smell, feel, hear, or recognize touch. Patients usually maintain control of eye muscles and bladder and bowel functions, although in the final stages of illness, patients need help to go to the bathroom.
"I try to live as normal as possible, and not think about my condition or regret the things that prevent me from doing much," said Professor Hawking, are like quoted from Hawking.org, Sunday (08/01/2012).
At first, the author of the bestseller 'A Brief History of Time' is feeling a little disturbed. Aware that he had an incurable disease and will kill him within a few years, little by surprise.
"My dream at that time was a bit annoyed, I was very bored with life. But suddenly I realized that there are other valuable thing I can do, if I'm tough," said the successor of Black Hole Theory (the theory of black holes) were found Einstein .
He's back up and dreaming, "I will sacrifice my life to save the lives of others".
At that time he returned to do research. And apparently, the presence of Hawking in the world has been waiting to continue the work of Newton and Einstein in peeling the veil of the universe.
All of the research conducted Hawking in his head, because the process goes hand paralysis gradually. Gradually he also trained his mind to think in different ways by physicists in general.
Although the disease usually does not damage a person's intellect and mind, several recent studies suggest that some ALS patients may experience changes in cognitive functions, such as depression and problems with decision-making and memory.
As reported by the BBC, in 1985, Hawking was sentenced to pneumonia and had to undergo tracheotomy operation. Tracheotomy operation to remove his ability to speak at all, and he must rely on a small portable computer and speech synthesizer mounted on a wheelchair.
"He's a brilliant, and he tried with difficulty to achieve all the things he had accomplished," said Bob Hawkins, diagnosis of ALS experts from North Carolina.
Hawking has a direct involvement in promoting awareness and research about the disease. He recently agreed to become patron of the MND Association in Northampton, England.
Hawking spent 49 years in a wheelchair. Currently Hawking takes care of 24 hours. Believed sharp mind that can make it survive despite his body was very weak.
Hawking claimed to live life as normally as possible. He was married 2 times the first with a girl called Jane Wilde, whom he met before his illness ketahun. Though Hawking has begun ill-ill, the couple was blessed with 3 children.
But for 26-year marriage was finally dissolved in divorce in 1990. Five years later, Hawking married a nurse for 11 years before finally parting too.
No comments:
Post a Comment