Huntington's disease is an hereditary degenerative disease that progresses uncontrollably. It causes some of the nerves in your brain to break down. As a result, people with Huntington's disease experience uncontrolled movements, mental deterioration and emotional swings. Because of these varied symptoms, people with this disease have a higher than normal caloric requirement and find it extremely difficult to meet it, often resulting in unwanted weight loss and malnutrition, which could cause further complications.
Symptoms of Huntington's Disease
Symptoms of this disease vary. In some people, it develops slowly; in others, it progresses rather rapidly. Early signs include irritability and anger, difficulty making everyday decisions, balance problems, excessive clumsiness, sudden jerky movements, and eventually swallowing problems and dementia..
Huntington's and Nutrition
With Huntington's you can burn up to 4,000 to 5,000 calories a day. It is very important that you eat an adequate diet that has enough nutrients and protein so that you can maintain proper body weight and nutritional status. Because of this, you will have to follow a high protein, high calorie diet. Additionally, because Huntington's disease can make you prone to dehydration from excessive involuntary movements, make sure you take in plenty of fluids.
Issues With Eating
If you have Huntington's disease, you may sometimes feel so ill that you lose your appetite and begin to lose weight rapidly. Additionally, because Huntington's can impair you coordination, you might need help when it comes to eating. Asking someone to help cut your food into small pieces or softening it may help you swallow with more ease and decrease your risk of choking.
How to Add Protein and Calories to Your Meals
Start by eating more meals per day. Even if it is just a little in each meal, it is better than eating only once or twice per day. Also, try to eat the foods that you love and eat in a relaxed place that will help you enhance your appetite. Always have snacks around, as you never know when hunger might strike. If you still feel that you are not gaining weight, you might want to try a caloric supplement between meals so that you can increase the total amount of calories you ingest each day. Finally, avoid drinking fluids during meals, as these may fill you up before you start eating solid foods. Instead, start eating the protein-containing foods and then move over to the carbohydrates and the vegetables. This way you will optimize the number of calories you eat in each meal.
Looking Ahead
According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, there is no way, as of 2010, to cure or reverse Huntington's disease. Even though the gene has been located, researchers have not come to an understanding of how it affects the human body. However, other therapies such as physical therapy and occupational therapy are often employed to try to treat some of the symptoms of the disease and to try to make patients' lives as easiest as possible. Exercising, meditating and acupuncture have also been found to help in some patients.
References
- American Dietetic Association: Guidelines for a High-Protein Hungtington's Disease Nutritional Therapy
- MayoClinic.com: Huntington's Disease
- American Dietetic Association: High Calorie High Protein Nutritional Therapy
- National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke: Huntington's Disease Information Page
