Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Lou Gehrig S Disease

The author, Robert Rymore, had a good friend who was diagnosed with Lou Gehrig Disease. He wanted to be able to help her and decided to buy some books about the disease. To his disappointment there was a lack of good informative books available on the subject. He decided to investigate the subject thoroughly and write a book about it to be able to help others. He decided he would start talking to professionals - doctors, physical therapists, speech therapists and occupational therapists - to learn more. He quickly realized the information he was getting would be extremely valuable for other people with ALS and their loved ones. This book has been a labor of love, one born of necessity and certainly one that aims to help those with ALS, their families, and their friends. ALS symptoms, signs, stages, types, diagnosis, treatment, caregiver tips, aids and what to expect is all covered. Including chapters about financial considerations, famous people with Lou Gehrig Disease and resources. The book is written in an easy to read and understandable style and contains tips for caregivers.

ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, cannot be cured but it can be treated. A great deal can be done to treat the symptoms of ALS, to improve an individual's quality of life, and to help families, caregivers, and loved ones to cope with the disease. This extensively revised and rewritten new edition of the bestselling Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: A Guide For Patients and Families addresses all of those needs, and brings up-to-date important information to those living with the reality of ALS. The book is completely revised throughout and contains NEW information on: Recently developed approaches to treating ALS symptoms Use of non-invasive ventilators Multidisciplinary team care New guidelines being developed by the American Academy of Neurology for patients with ALS The use of riluzole (Rilutek) to treat ALS Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis covers every aspect of the management of ALS, from clinical features of the disease, to diagnosis, to an overview of symptom management. Major sections deal with medical and rehabilitative management, living with ALS, managing advanced disease, end-of-life issues, and resources that can provide support and assistance in this time of need.

Lou Gehrig's Disease, or Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, attacks nerve cells and pathways in the brain and spinal cord. Patients in the later stages of the disease become totally paralyzed, yet in most cases, their minds are still alert and sharp. Readers are provided with essential information on ALS. This book also serves as a historical survey, by providing information on the controversies surrounding its causes. Compelling first-person narratives by people coping with ALS give readers a first-hand experience. Patients, family members, or caregivers explain the condition from their own experience, including famed scientist Stephen Hawking. The symptoms, causes, treatments, and potential cures are explained in detail. Essential to anyone trying to learn about diseases and conditions, the alternative treatments are explored. Each essay is carefully edited and presented with an introduction, so that they are accessible for student researchers and readers.

A diagnosis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (also known as Lou Gehrig's disease or motor neuron disease) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that exerts a notorious life-shortening physical toll. Understandably, clinicians are keen to avoid a wrong diagnosis when there are such serious consequences, but any delay in diagnosis can result in unnecessary, and sometimes harmful, interventions, and prevents prompt implementation of much-needed physical and emotional support. Starting from the premise that ALS is not one disease but a syndrome, with a spectrum of upper and lower motor neuron involvement, this highly readable resource examines the causes of diagnostic delay and how to avoid them. With no diagnostic test to confirm the disease, no mandatory investigations and very few plausible 'ALS mimics', the authors take a pragmatic approach to what must always be a clinical diagnosis. With case presentations and teaching points to aid understanding, 'Fast Facts: ALS' will give clinicians the confidence to confirm or exclude a diagnosis of ALS, so that individuals facing this most challenging of conditions can receive rapid multidisciplinary support to maximize the quality of their remaining life. Contents: • Defining the syndrome • Epidemiology and pathophysiology • The first symptoms • Differential diagnosis • Investigations • Emerging diagnostic biomarkers

This volume provides an evidence-based guide to the care of people with ALS/MND, including the control of symptoms, the psychosocial care of patients and their families, and care in bereavement.

Explores the history of this incurable disease, from its initial diagnosis to the sophisticated techniques used today for treatment and for helping patients cope with the disease.