Letter to the editor: May a good time to learn about ALS

Each year, the American Hospital Association publishes a calendar of health-related dates so providers can plan relevant community events, create awareness about various health concerns and educate the public about prevention, signs and symptoms of health issues. May is no exception and includes Stroke Awareness Month, Mental Health Month, Melanoma/Skin Cancer Month and High Blood Pressure Month, to name a few. Rightly so, given the ability to prevent, diagnose more quickly or treat those conditions effectively.

But another health issue occupies a monthly acknowledgment in May, a fatal disease called amyo­trophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS/Lou Gehrig’s disease. ALS Awareness Month sheds light on this little-discussed disease, perhaps due to its smaller number of cases.

Previously, I knew very little about this devastating disease except that well-known physicist Stephen Hawking lived a very rare, longer life than the vast majority of those with ALS. But I learned more and believe that with information, education, research, advocacy and support, perhaps a cure or further medication advances that delay the disease progression and offer a better quality of life can provide affected individuals and their loved ones with hope.

I encourage you, too, to learn more about ALS or visit the ALS Association website this month to see what’s happening.

Linda Gioia Simon

Hempfield