The neurologist in the ALS Clinic is to monitor clinical function, initiate treatment programs as needed, and provide overall support to the patient and family. It's important that you find a Neurologist experienced in the diagnosis and care of ALS patients, A nurse clinic coordinator is responsible for the details in running the clinic and is the main contact between the different ALS team members and the patients and their families. The nurses in the clinic also provide a multitude of services, including monitoring of vital signs and weight, maintaining the medical records for each clinic visit, assessing general health problems and providing practical solutions, and testing functional changes in the patient's clinical status. In addition, research nurses coordinate the different clinical drug studies for patients attending the clinic. The pulmonary specialist is to carefully monitor the respiratory status and initiate prompt intervention when needed.
Breathing is a function of lungs as well as the muscles that move the chest and lungs.
Avoid eating large meals which can prevent diaphragm from expanding fully. Maintaining good nutritional status is essential to ensure optimal functional capability of breathing muscles. The therapy of respiratory dysfunction in ALS is primarily aimed at general supportive measures, instruction in maintaining nutrition and prevention of aspiration, flu vaccinations, and medications to decrease the work of breathing. If oral or pharyngeal secretions become excessive, drugs that decrease saliva production or suction devices to remove secretions may be beneficial. If low blood oxygen levels are documented, supplemental oxygen is given.