Product Description
ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, cannot be cured, but treatments are now available that can make a major differencein prolonging and enhancing life. Written by clinicians who manage one of the leading ALS centers in the world, this book guides readersthrough an understanding what ALS is, how it is diagnosed, the management of symptoms, and the drugs that are available to treat theunderlying disease process. Chapters cover topics that include nutrition and swallowing; speech, communication, and computer access;mobility; breathing and sleeping; end-of-life care; and much more, including insurance issues and practical tips. Chapters from leading ALSorganizations offer a broad list of support services, publications, websites, and other resources. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Helpful and to the point!I wished they issued an updated edition!!!!
I found the chapters about insurance, clinical trials, and the resources appendix to be really practical and to the point.I have a neurobiology background but I do not know much about ALS: the first chapter provided me with an excellent road map I can take and run as a base to further myeducation as a health care provider whose relative was just diagnosed.
Thank you!!!
PS Is there a new edition in the pipeline?a 2005 edition is somewhat outdated when it comes to diagnosis, outcomes, therapeutic options, clinical trials, and at times even legal/insurance issues.
I would really appreciate it if someone could give me the heads up on it, or anything else pertaining to ALS education and treatment.I can be contacted through "the bookish trader" on amazon.
Thanks,
ECC

I have ALS and was surprised this helped....
Cover to cover this book enlightened me to what I've expereinced, feared and now need to predict.Having lost my aunt and godmother to this disease made me feel guilty and aprehensive. I taught religion for 5 years to 8th graders in addition to my full time job.In the last year I had to tell them the truth about me, I now have ALS, the first group outside my family and very close friends.I did not think reading this book would encourage me to hope but it did.Although most of my family also are reading it too, it almost seems harder for them then me, but in the end its good advice and at least opens the door for good and educated communication when decisions will be needed. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (8)

Expert Comprehensive Discussion of Causes, Treatments, and Outcomes of This Wasting Disease
Hiroshi Misumoto, MD, author of this book, has assembled articles from experts in all areas surrounding ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease).While it can become fairly technical in scope for the home user, it is an encyclopedic reference for those who suffer from the disease and those who care for them.

Usually, I avoid books with articles from many experts because often these articles are simply filler that make a short book appear long.Such is not the case with this book.Each expert has contributed advice from his or her field of experience and knowledge concerning ALS. Every issue of treatment and care is covered in this book, and there is enough information to help the patient and caregiver ask the physician specific questions and be knowledgeable enough to understand the answers.

I imagine that reading Amyotropic Lateral Sclerosis will appear daunting at first to many.However, the information is presented in readable fashion once you get started. Each subject area, covered in chapter format, can be tackled as needed, so you don't have to attempt to read this book through in a very short time.

Hats off to Mitsumoto for a well-researched, well-presented volume.

Good Resource
Comprehensive, current and clear resource for patients and caregivers. A variety of authors cover a practical and emotional issues in a series of caring and well written chapters.

A top pick for those who want to be armed with the knowledge they need to deal with the disease
Lou Gehrig's disease cut short the career of a baseball icon and has cut short the lives of thousands since. "Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: A Guide for Patients and Families" is a guide for victims and families of Lou Gehrig's disease and how to deal with this incurable, but treatable disease. From symptoms to medicine, to more, "Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis" is a top pick for those who want to be armed with the knowledge they need to deal with the disease.

AMYOTROPHIC LATERAL SCLEROSIS
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: A Guide for Patients and Families IT'S A LITTLE TECHNICAL, BUT SURE TELLS YOU WHAT WANT YOU WANT TO KNOW. I WILL FIND OUT TOMORROW IF I HAVE IT,

Excellent Resource
I used this book religiously before my dad passed away from complications due to ALS last July.The book was very helpful to understand what was happening and what was coming.As depressing as it all is, it was better to understand the situation so I could do all I could to help my loved one.I was just looking at my copy the other day and the amount of highlighting in it and stickies hanging out of it reminded me of how used the book was. ... Read more

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Amytrophic Lateral Sclerosis (or motor neurone disease) is a rare disease but one that can cause profound suffering for both the patient and their family.Whilst new treatments for ALS are being developed, these are not curative and offer only the potential to slow its progression. Palliative care must therefore be integral to the clinical approach to the disease. Palliative Care in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: From diagnosis to bereavementreflects the wide scope of this care; it must cover not just the terminal phase, but support the patient and their family from the onset of the disease. Both the multidisciplinary palliative care team and the neurology team are essential in providing a high standard of care and allowing quality of life (both patient and carer) to be maintained.Clear guidelines are provided to address care throughout the disease process.Control of symptoms is covered alongside the psychosocial care of patients and their families, culminating in discussion of bereavement. The experience of patients and families is considered and case studies are provided to show the practical application of the theoretical knowledge.Different models of care are explored, and this new edition utilises the increase in both the evidence-base and available literature on the subject.Additional chapters on nursing, spiritual care, decision making, and ethical issues surrounding end of life care ensure that this new edition remains the essential guide to palliative care in ALS. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Well Worth the Read
Tremendous!There is not much published on this particular topic, but this is a very comprehensive look at this difficult but REWARDING field! ... Read more

Product Description
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 individuals 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. ... Read more

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(Martin Dunitz) Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA. Discusses clinical features, functional and physiological studies, pathogenesis, therapeutic approaches, and patient care. For clinical neurologists and residents. Halftone illustrations and extensive references. ... Read more

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This sourcebook has been created for patients who have decided to make education and Internet-based research an integral part of the treatment process. Although it gives information useful to doctors, caregivers and other health professionals, it also tells patients where and how to look for information covering virtually all topics related to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, from the essentials to the most advanced areas of research. The title of this book includes the word official. This reflects the fact that the sourcebook draws from public, academic, government, and peer-reviewed research. Selected readings from various agencies are reproduced to give you some of the latest official information available to date on amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Following an introductory chapter, the sourcebook is organized into three parts. PART I: THE ESSENTIALS; Chapter 1. The Essentials on Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: Guidelines; Chapter 2. Seeking Guidance; Chapter 3. Clinical Trials and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis; PART II: ADDITIONAL RESOURCES AND ADVANCED MATERIAL; Chapter 4. Studies on Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis; Chapter 5. Patents on Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis; Chapter 6. Books on Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis; Chapter 7. Multimedia on Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis; Chapter 8. Periodicals and News on Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis; Chapter 9. Physician Guidelines and Databases; PART III. APPENDICES; Appendix A. Researching Your Medications; Appendix B. Researching Alternative Medicine; Appendix C. Researching Nutrition; Appendix D. Finding Medical Libraries; Appendix E. Your Rights and Insurance; ONLINE GLOSSARIES; AMYOTROPHIC LATERAL SCLEROSIS GLOSSARY; INDEX. Related topics include: Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis-Polyglucosan Bodies, Aran-Duchenne Muscular Atrophy, Gehrig's Disease, Lou Gehrig's disease, Motor neuron disease, Motor System Disease (Focal and Slow). ... Read more

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Respiratory Management of ALS: Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis brings together the latest research, expert opinions, and treatment options for respiratory symptom management. It provides a detailed, step-by-step approach to assessment of upper and lower airway structures and how motor neuron loss impairs function. Treatment options emphasize symptom management and enhanced quality of life. Palliative care, end-of-life decision making, and long term mechanical ventilation in patients with MND/ALS are included.This textbook encourages critical thinking through 1) inclusion of researchable questions at the end of chapters, and 2) discussion of different approaches to patient assessment and symptom management when medical evidence is lacking. Students will be encouraged to use their understanding of anatomy, physiology, pharmacology, lung expansion and secretion mobilization techniques to review, support or challenge current practices in MND/ALS. Respiratory Management of ALS: Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis includes chapter outlines, case histories, introductions, summaries, research questions, and more!Respiratory therapy students, respiratory care practitioners, nurses in neurology clinics, primary care physicians, and pulmonologists whose practice includes patients with motor neuron disease will all benefit from the detailed review of bulbar and thoracic muscles, loss of function, and treatment recommendations. ... Read more

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This collection of invited papers from a Muscular Dystrophy Association-sponsored symposium provides coverage of clinical and basic research on amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and other motor neuron diseases. Experts highlight new findings and theories on the molecular generics of these diseases, assess current concepts on immune-mediated motorneuron destruction and examine the pathogenesis of motor neuron disease induced by persistent viral infection. Several studies of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis/Parkinsonism-dementia complex in Guam offer new epidemiologic clues to the etiology of motor neuron diseases. Attention is also given to aluminium-induced motor neuron degeneration, post-radiation motor neuron syndromes and motor neuron disorders caused by other environmental agents. The book concludes with discussions on new approaches to designing and conducting clinical therapeutic trials in ALS. ... Read more

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The brain controls everything the human body does.It enables people to perform voluntary activities such as walking and talking.It regulates automatic processes like breathing and digesting food.It is responsible for emotions, thoughts, and memory.When diseases or disorders strike the brain, the results can be devastating.

Brain Disorders Sourcebook provides basic information about the complex issues surrounding brain disorders.In non-technical language it explains the causes and treatments of a wide range of brain disorders, including stroke, epilepsy, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS, or Lou Gehrig's Disease), Parkinson's disease, benign and malignant brain tumors, cerebral palsy, and others.Readers will learn to recognize symptoms, understand diagnostic tests, and become acquainted with various treatment options and coping strategies. ... Read more

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Webster's bibliographic and event-based timelines are comprehensive in scope, covering virtually all topics, geographic locations and people. They do so from a linguistic point of view, and in the case of this book, the focus is on "Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis," including when used in literature (e.g. all authors that might have Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis in their name). As such, this book represents the largest compilation of timeline events associated with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis when it is used in proper noun form. Webster's timelines cover bibliographic citations, patented inventions, as well as non-conventional and alternative meanings which capture ambiguities in usage. These furthermore cover all parts of speech (possessive, institutional usage, geographic usage) and contexts, including pop culture, the arts, social sciences (linguistics, history, geography, economics, sociology, political science), business, computer science, literature, law, medicine, psychology, mathematics, chemistry, physics, biology and other physical sciences. This "data dump" results in a comprehensive set of entries for a bibliographic and/or event-based timeline on the proper name Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, since editorial decisions to include or exclude events is purely a linguistic process. The resulting entries are used under license or with permission, used under "fair use" conditions, used in agreement with the original authors, or are in the public domain. ... Read more

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Center for Neurologic Study, San Diego, California. Neurological Disease and Therapy, Volume 12. Summary of current knowledge, treatment and research for clinicians and researchers. Includes a six-page autobiographical prologue by renowned physicist Stephen W. Hawking, who lives with ALS. 52 Contributors. ... Read more

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Hardbound. This volume covers the latest findings on the molecular mechanism and therapeutics of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), including important research on 1) pathological characteristics and epidemiology of ALS, 2) selective vulnerability of spinal motor neurons, 3) genetic abnormality of ALS and neurotrophin, 4) mechanism of motor neuron death and glutamate toxicity, 5) motor axon, axonal transport, neurofilament, and glycation, 6) basic therapeutic approach, and 7) clinical therapeutic approach.

The surprising discovery of Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase (SOD1) gene mutations in a part of familial ALS in 1993 has had a strong impact on all neuroscientists and clinicians dealing with this disease. This volume aims to help them to progress their future basic and clinical investigations, and to enhance strong scientific collaboration in elucidating the molecular mechanism and discovering the essential therapeutics of the disease. ... Read more

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Hardbound. Rapid progress has been made in both the research and clinical aspects of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). There are striking achievements in many areas of ALS research.

The contents of this volume will allow the reader to easily understand this progress, finding exciting advances in every section that could not have been imagined several years ago. This volume will bring great benefits to all researchers and clinicians involved with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. ... Read more

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Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, otherwise known as Lou Gehrig's Disease, is one of several degenerative diseases of the aging nervous system. This text neatly synthesizes the recent explosion of research into this particular condition to construct a detailed and comprehensive overview. Drs. Eisen and Krieger bring their research expertise and extensive clinical experience to provide this practical and thought-provoking account. Chapters cover the epidemiology, molecular biology, and pathophysiology of ALS, as well as issues pertinent to clinical assessment and care. ... Read more