How do ALS patients die? Do they suffocate and choke?
Some ALS patients choose to have a tracheostomy and go on a ventilator. This choice will prolong someone’s life indefinitely and death eventually comes from infection, heart attack/failure, blood clots, or a similar problem. Most patients choose not to have invasive ventilation and in that case, often receive care from a hospice organization. Hospice focuses on keeping people comfortable so that they can enjoy their lives. There are a variety of medications and treatments that can prevent and treat discomfort including that related to shortness of breath. Most ALS patients die peacefully in their sleep. back to top 16. It has been almost 70 years since Lou Gehrig died. Why don’t we know the cause and cure yet? As we have learned more about ALS we have found it to be a very complicated condition. There are many, many research teams all around the world focused exclusively on ALS. There are even more research teams studying neurodegeneration and why nerves die. We need all the help we ca
