While living with a chronic illness can be challenging, there are ways that you can make life easier and live a happy and fulfilling life. Establishing good habits and routines takes time, but as Gunnar Esiason points out in his blog Own It, there are some “common sense approaches” to…
Social Clips
An ALS Documentary: ‘Mr Connolly Has ALS’
https://vimeo.com/216244227 This film by Dan Habib is all about the extraordinary life of high school principal Gene Connolly. Connolly was the much-loved principal of Concord High School for 14 years before he was struck by amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in 2014. MORE: Explaining the progression…
How to Live Your Best Life With a Chronic Illness
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rCZunn4ML5o If you’re living with a chronic illness, it’s easy to slip into a malaise and feel sorry for yourself. This isn’t a helpful state of mind and it potentially means you’re missing out on life. In this video from NewLifeOutlook, Anna Scanlon shares her five…
What Are Fasciculations in ALS?
Many people suffer from fasciculations or muscle twitching, and most of the time, it’s caused by drinking too much coffee, a lack of sleep or a trapped nerve. However, repeated episodes of fasciculations could be a sign of a neuromuscular disorder such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). MORE: An overview…
Brad Gildenblatt was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis in 2014. Three years later, his ALS had progressed to the point where he was unable to travel from Dallas to Oklahoma to see his only child, Caitlin, graduate from Oklahoma State University. However, when one of the deans of the university found out,…
The Cost of Neuromuscular Disorders in the U.S.
The Muscular Dystrophy Association, in collaboration with the Lewin Group, has calculated the average cost of caring for three of the most common neuromuscular disorders. MORE: Most with chronic conditions find the Affordable Care Act beneficial The study looks at both medical and non-medical costs associated…
4 Things to Consider Before Getting a Service Dog
Having a service dog can greatly enhance the life of someone living with a chronic disease. They allow patients to regain some of their independence by helping with small everyday tasks like opening and closing doors, fetching meds, acting as a prop or support as their owner stands, switching on lights and attracting attention…
What Research Is Being Done on ALS?
The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) is one of the world’s leading funders of research into amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Its goals are to better understand the cellular mechanisms which lead to the development and subsequent progression of ALS, discover more about the…
Share Your Blessings is a non-profit organization that specializes in helping children and adults with special needs. As part of its Project Maestro initiative, it has given away more than 750 Beamz Interactive Music Systems with a retail value of $300,000 to people with disabilities, according to…
An Overview of Motor Neuron Disease
In this video, Dr. Simon Freilich gives an overview of the main type of motor neuron disease: amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). MORE: 16 fast facts about amyotrophic lateral sclerosis Dr. Freilich explains that ALS accounts for around 85 percent of motor neuron disease cases. The…
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