For more information, call: 573-331-3000
Patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, can now receive comprehensive treatment and specialized care at Saint Francis Medical Center’s Neurosciences Institute. Robert E. Gardner Jr., MD, a board certified neurologist, leads Saint Francis’ new ALS Clinic, whose multidisciplinary treatment team includes speech and respiratory therapists and an ALS Association case manager. Every year, about 5,600 people nationwide — most between ages 40 and 70 — are diagnosed with ALS. The condition attacks the nerve cells in the central nervous system that control voluntary muscle movement, causing progressive muscle weakness and, ultimately, paralysis. While there is no cure for ALS, new treatments and therapies available at the ALS Clinic can slow its progression and offer a better quality of life. Symptoms of ALS vary but may include: • Muscle weakness in the hands, arms, feet and legs • Muscle twitching and cramping • Slurred speech • Difficulty swallowing or breathing For more information, call 573-331-5520.
Saint Francis Medical Center is located at 211 Saint Francis Drive, Cape Girardeau, MO. For more information call 573-331-3000.
Email sfmc@sfmc.net
Save Your Brain: Don’t Play Around With Concussions
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