T.H. is a 55-year-old man with an 8-month history of progressive muscle weakness. Initially, he tripped over

things and seemed to drop everything. He lost interest in activities because he was always exhausted.

He
sought medical assistance when his speech became slurred and he started to drool. During the initial
evaluation, the physician noted frequent, severe muscle cramps, muscle twitching, and inappropriate,
uncontrollable periods of laughter. After undergoing a series of tests, T.H. was diagnosed with amyo
trophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). He is upset and bewildered about a disease that he has "never even heard
of." You are a home health nurse who is seeing T.H. for the first time.
How would you explain ALS to T.H.?


ALS is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that attacks nerve cells in the brain and the spinal
cord. It is a progressive, fatal disease that causes muscles to gradually weaken and atrophy until they
finally cease to function.

Nursing

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