Amyotrophic Lateral Scelerosis (ALS) is a disease that causes a slow and very painful dealth. This disease affects your nervous system, and destroys nerves. This disallows movement and makes it hard to swallow and speak. In the U.S alone 15 people are diagnosed with ALS daily - with over 5,600 yearly. Also 30,000 people are currently affected by ALS.  ALS is responsible for 2 out of every 100,000 deaths. I know that does not sound like much but it is.  In 2008 on average 6,775 people died daily. That would mean that ALS is responsible for  death almost every single week.  Once diagnosed with ALS your life expectancy is 2-5 years. Only 1 out of every 5 people live past that 5 year mark.