Navigating Life with Parkinson Disease


Book Description

Here is a marvelous guide for anyone affected by Parkinson's disease--patients, caregivers, family members, and friends. Containing the most up-to-date information on the disease, one of the most common neurological disorders, it discusses the available treatments and provides practical advice on how to manage the disease in the long term. Emphasizing life-style adjustments that will provide a better quality of life and moderate the burden for patients and their loved ones, the book answers many questions and clarifies misunderstandings regarding the disease. Written by two experts on Parkinson's disease and a freelance journalist, the book is approachable and easily understandable. Question and answer sections are provided, while "hot topics" are highlighted for easy visibility. The authors have also included true patient stories that will both inspire and instruct, and they have addressed several topics often not mentioned in physician-directed disease management, such as how to talk to family and friends about one's life with Parkinson's.




Navigating Life with a Brain Tumor


Book Description

Navigating Life with a Brain Tumor is a guide for anyone affected by brain tumors and their associated conditions-patients, family members, friends, and caregivers. Providing readily accessible information and real-world encouragement to people living with primary and metastatic brain tumors and their caregivers, this book discusses the basics of brain tumors, types of tumors, management of different tumors, related symptoms, treatments and side effects, the role of medical team members, and coping strategies from initial diagnosis throughout the course of the illness. At the same time, it also offers practical suggestions on symptom management and lifestyle modification, as well as real-life anecdotes and advice from both patients and family members and friends who are experiencing this diagnosis.




Epilepsy


Book Description

Epilepsy is the most common neurologic disorder in children, adults, and the elderly. The Epilepsy Foundation estimates that over 2.7 million people in the U.S have epilepsy, and an additional 181,000 new cases are diagnosed each year. Despite these numbers, epilepsy is often misunderstood. Individuals diagnosed with epilepsy face many difficulties and lifestyle changes. A proper understanding of epilepsy is a vital first step toward managing this disease and maintaining a normal life. Epilepsy: A Guide to Balancing Your Life is an excellent resource for individuals who are diagnosed with epilepsy. Sponsored by the American Academy of Neurology, it contains practical and reliable information written in layman's terms. Filled with helpful tables and illustrations, this guide will answer commonly asked questions about epilepsy, explain how it is diagnosed and treated both with medications and other treatment options. It also discusses: Diet Epilepsy and pregnancy Sports and epilepsy Surgical treatment The effects of epilepsy in different age groups And much more! Epilepsy: A Guide to Balancing Your Life is essential reading for all people with epilepsy seeking a better quality of life, and for family members and caregivers needing a better understanding of this condition.




Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis


Book Description

ALS is not a curable disease, but it is a treatable one. Treatments are now available that can make a major difference in prolonging life and enhancing the quality of life for people with the disease, and there are treatments for many of the symptoms of ALS that can help ease its burden.Multidisciplinary teams in specialized ALS centers are providing top quality care and comprehensive rehabilitation for persons with ALS. In spite of the progressive nature of this disease and its clear tendency to shorten life, the momentum of research in this disease is expanding dramatically and numerous clinical trials are testing promising new therapies. Our understanding of the basic causes of ALS is expanding gradually. The substantial resources of patient advocacy groups such as the Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Association and Muscular Dystrophy Association provide tremendous help and support for people with ALS and their families. Although the diagnosis of ALS can initially be devastating, the vast majority of people discovering new courage from within to battle this disease and live life with vigor and enthusiasm. The information in this book will prove useful to people with ALS and their families both in managing the disease and living within its limitations.




Palliative Care in Neurology


Book Description

Over the last 50 years palliative care has usually been associated with cancer patients but more recently there has been increased discussion of the role of palliative care for neurological patients. In the past years, neurology has moved from being a purely diagnostic area to a very therapeutically active one. A further step needs to be taken to modify the therapeutic activity from “cure” to “care” depending on the patient’s disease trajectory. Palliative care has been associated with care at the end of life, whereas it may be appropriate earlier in the disease progression, and will extend after death in the support of bereaved families. The care of patients with neurological disease, and their families, will encompass the psychological, spiritual and existential issues and neurologists, and the teams in which they work, should develop skills to consider all aspects of care, in order to maximize the quality of life of all involved, and enable patients to die peacefully.




Navigating Smell and Taste Disorders


Book Description

Demos Health and the American Academy of Neurology Present a New Book for Patients with Smell and Taste Disorders Over 200,000 people visit doctors each year for smell and taste problems. Since our ability to smell and taste decreases with age, up to 14 million Americans aged 55 and older may live with these disorders, undiagnosed. Smell and taste disorders affect a person's ability to enjoy food and drink and may result in decreased appetite, weight loss, and too much added sugar and salt in the diet. In severe cases they may lead to depression. Smell and taste problems can also interfere with personal safety, limiting the ability to notice smoke and potentially harmful chemicals and gases. Navigating Smell and Taste Disorders is a unique collaboration between a doctor and a food consultant that both addresses the subject of smell and taste loss and provides food preparation tips and a special recipe section that will appeal to other senses and make food attractive again. This is a must-have reference book for all those living with smell and taste disorders. The book covers the whole disorder including How smell and taste work Causes of smell and taste problems Treatments What you can expect when you visit a specialist Recipes that will appeal to other senses and make food attractive again First-person accounts of coping with this disorder Navigating Smell and Taste Disorders is the inaugural book in the series Neurology Now Books from the American Academy of Neurology. Inspired by Neurology Now, the AAN's leading neurologic patient information magazine, Neurology Now Books are written from a multidisciplinary approach, combining the expertise of a neurologist with other related experts and patients and caregivers. Each volume will provide the reader with the most up-to-date information, answers to questions and concerns, and first-person accounts of others who are living with a neurologic disorder.




Advocacy in Neurology


Book Description

Advocacy is a broad term that covers activities aimed at increasing attention, awareness, information, nursing, treatment, and support to improve the outcome of patients. These actions can be focused directly towards patients or indirectly via third parties. Although advocacy is present in all medical specialties, neurology in particular finds itself in need of strong advocacy tools as the diagnosis, treatment, long-term care and associated resource, and social issues have become increasingly complex. While some physicians implicitly or explicitly act as advocates, there is a lack of holistic research in order to clarify the meaning of advocacy along with concrete methods and strategies. Advocacy in Neurology provides an integrated approach to the concept of advocacy in neurology. Structured in five sections, the book begins by explaining the term "advocacy" in general before elaborating on the areas of interest within neurology. The text goes on to offer concrete strategies and tools for clinicians to deploy advocacy in their daily work, and then discusses specific neurological diseases to point out and explain where advocacy is, or could be, beneficial. The book ends with an outlook, presentation of results, and an ending conclusion. Advocacy in Neurology offers a practical perspective on advocacy activities in neurology, aiming to show when and why they are important for neurology.




Clinical Neurology of the Older Adult


Book Description

Now in its Second Edition, this text is the most up-to-date reference on the evaluation and treatment of neurologic problems in older adults. The book is organized so that clinicians can quickly look up either a patient's symptom(s) or a disease, and includes medication charts and diagnostic algorithms. Psychosocial issues such as driving and long-term care options are also addressed. This edition has more information on EMG, evoked potentials, other clinical neurophysiologic procedures, brain imaging, PET scans for dementia screening, and functional imaging in patients with cognitive changes. Updated information on new antiparkinsonian agents and paraneoplastic syndromes is also included.




Guillain-Barre Syndrome


Book Description

Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS) is a disorder in which the body's immune system attacks part of the peripheral nervous system. Feelings of tingling and weakness increase in intensity until the muscles cannot be used at all and the patient is almost totally paralyzed. No one knows why Guillain-Barre strikes some people and not others, or what sets the disease in motion. What we do know is that GBS is now the most common cause of acute paralysis in Western countries since the virtual elimination of poliomyelitis with vaccination programs. Guillain-Barre Syndrome, co-authored by a survivor of this illness, addresses all aspects of this condition, including initial symptoms, diagnostic evaluation and criteria, general and illness specific treatments, and typical outcomes. Fortunately, most GBS patients have a good recovery, but the pathway to this goal can be slow and scary. This book covers a wide range of issues including: Features unique to GBS such as pain without injury and other abnormal sensations Workplace adjustment with incomplete recovery Intensive care unit management Practical caregivers guidelines The rehabilitation process Sexual dysfunction, and much more Guillain-Barre Syndrome is a comprehensive book, written in lay terms, covering everything from diagnosis to emotional issues. It is a book that stands alone. This latest volume in the American Academy of Neurology Press Quality of Life Guide series is an essential tool for all individuals, families, and caregivers coping with Guillain-Barre Syndrome.




Redesigning Continuing Education in the Health Professions


Book Description

Today in the United States, the professional health workforce is not consistently prepared to provide high quality health care and assure patient safety, even as the nation spends more per capita on health care than any other country. The absence of a comprehensive and well-integrated system of continuing education (CE) in the health professions is an important contributing factor to knowledge and performance deficiencies at the individual and system levels. To be most effective, health professionals at every stage of their careers must continue learning about advances in research and treatment in their fields (and related fields) in order to obtain and maintain up-to-date knowledge and skills in caring for their patients. Many health professionals regularly undertake a variety of efforts to stay up to date, but on a larger scale, the nation's approach to CE for health professionals fails to support the professions in their efforts to achieve and maintain proficiency. Redesigning Continuing Education in the Health Professions illustrates a vision for a better system through a comprehensive approach of continuing professional development, and posits a framework upon which to develop a new, more effective system. The book also offers principles to guide the creation of a national continuing education institute.