Gastrostomy Tube
A gastrostomy tube is used for patients who have had disease effects of jaw, mouth, or tongue muscles. Weakened mouth muscles impair the patients ability to swallow/ chew their food. A feeding tube is also needed when autonomic muscles that involve food digestion are affected. A gastrostomy tube is inserted directly into the stomach.
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Weelchair
When neuron loss and weakened muscles of ALS patients becomes severe, a wheelchair is needed. After disease onset, patients become to weak to have proper muscle movement, balance, posture, or any movement at all. Wheelchairs often have neck rests to stabilize the patient's head when they become to weak to hold it up themselves.
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Rilutek (riluzole)
Ventilator/ Tracheostomy tube
A ventilator is used to assist patients with breathing when respiratory muscles become severely weakened and the patient cannot breathe or preform any basic functions anymore. A tracheostomy tube is placed into the trachea, then connected to a ventilator, to help with breathing. However, many patients' families choose not to put patients on a ventilator because there is no hope for improvement. The patient would likely spend the rest of their life on the ventilator.
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