More than Sixteen Percent of ALS Patients are Military Veterans
By Debbie Gregory.
By Debbie Gregory.
Of the some 6,000 people in the United States that are diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) each year, approximately 16 percent of them are military veterans. In spite of the Ice Bucket Challenge that went viral in 2014, most Americans know very little about the progressive neurodegenerative disease, which is always fatal.
ALS impacts nerve cells in the spinal cord and brain, causing patients to eventually lose all control over their physical faculties. About half of ALS patients die within 2-3 years of diagnosis, but about 4 percent survive more than 10 years.
According to the ALS Association, the risk is increased regardless of which branch of the military you served in, where you were posted, and even whether you served during war or peace. While those who served in the Persian Gulf War in 1991 have double the risk, according to a report from the Institute of Medicine, those who served in Vietnam, Korea, or World War II also have a higher risk of ALS.
The average cost of care is over $300,000 per patient. Of course, that does not include the human toll the disease takes on those affected by the horrible disease and their loved ones.
And while there are many theories as to why there are unusually high rates of ALS in the military, the truth is that at this point, no one knows. One theory is that those in the military have a higher risk of being exposed to environmental pollutants such as lead, pesticides, and other toxins. Another is that the extreme physical exertion that servicemen and women undergo may also heighten the risk. Smoking and alcohol consumption are also thought to increase the risk of the disease.
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs recognizes ALS as a service-connected disease and provides financial and medical support to those with at least 90 continuous days of military service.
Veteran and Military Business Owners Association, VAMBOA,
