Slowing the progression of ALS and living your best life

ALS is a progressive and fatal neurologic disease that attacks the nerve cells. Robin Miller, MD, lists the common symptoms of ALS and explains which specialists can best assist in slowing its progression.

Transcript

00:00

Once the disease starts, it almost always progresses. How fast that happens is variable.

00:08

Early signs of ALS include difficulty walking or doing normal daily activities, frequent tripping or falling,

00:15

weakness of the legs and arms, trouble swallowing and slurred speech, muscle cramps and twitching the legs,

00:22

arms, shoulders and tongue, and difficulty in holding the head up or having good posture. [MUSIC PLAYING]

00:31

The most important thing for living a fulfilling life with ALS would be to have a team to help with the health and psychological issues that

00:38

will arise with the disease. The team should include a physical therapist to help with focusing on larger muscles for balance,

00:45

walking, and standing. A pulmonary or lung specialist can help with breathing, especially when there's a need for assistance

00:52

as the breathing muscles weaken. A speech therapist can help with articulating speech as the tongue muscle weakens.

00:59

An occupational therapist can help with smaller activities, such as buttoning a shirt, using a fork, or brushing the teeth.

01:06

A nutritionist can weigh in on a healthy liquid or soft diet that will make eating easier as the swallowing muscles weaken,

01:13

and a psychologist or psychiatric social worker can help with the logistical and emotional problems that occur as the disease progresses.

01:20

Not only is a loving family and environment important, loved ones and partners are essential when it becomes

01:26

difficult to communicate. [MUSIC PLAYING]