What is Lou Gehrig's Disease, ALS disease?

Crews from "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" hope tonight's Pine Mountain Valley episode will raise awareness of Jeremy Williams' condition, ALS (also known as Lou Gehrig's Disease). Here are some facts about ALS, according to The ALS Association:

*ALS stands for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. The condition affects the function of nerves and muscles.

*Early symptoms of ALS include increasing muscle weakness, especially involving the arms and legs, speech, swallowing or breathing.

*There is currently no cure for the fatal condition.

*Approximately 5,600 people in the U.S. are diagnosed with ALS each year.

*The life expectancy of an ALS patient averages about two to five years from the time of diagnosis, but some people live five years or more. More than half of all patients live more than three years after diagnosis.

*Baseball player Lou Gehrig died from ALS in 1941, according to his official website.

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This story was originally published May 16, 2010 at 6:09 PM with the headline "What is Lou Gehrig's Disease, ALS disease?."