What is Huntington's disease?

Huntington’s Disease (HD) is also known as Huntington's Chorea, or simply Huntington’s. In the main, it is an inherited neurodegenerative disease with early symptoms made manifest by subtle problems with mood or mental abilities. An unsteady gait and a general lack of coordination often follow.

Chorea is a neurological condition that involves involuntary, random, and continuous movement while a person is awake.

Further Huntington’s Disease symptoms

Further detail on symptoms relating to Huntington’s disease diagnosis include:

  • Difficulty concentrating
  • Memory lapses
  • A lack of interest in things
  • Depression – including low mood
  • Mood swings such as irritability or aggressive behaviour
  • Feelings of hopelessness
  • Stumbling

Is Huntington’s terminal?

Huntington's disease (HD) is a fatal genetic disorder that causes the progressive breakdown of nerve cells in the brain. It deteriorates a person's physical and mental abilities usually during their prime working years and has no cure.

What is Huntington's disease life expectancy?

The disease progression rate and duration are varied. From first symptoms to death can be anything from 10 to 30 years. Juvenile Huntington's disease often results in death earlier within 10 years after symptoms develop. The risk of suicide may be increased and linked to the clinical depression associated with Huntington's disease.

How do people with Huntington's sleep?

Sleep patterns and disturbances are observed in patients with Huntington’s, and these can be varied. Some of the most common reported can include difficulty in falling asleep, insomnia, frequent nocturnal awakenings followed by excessive daytime sleepiness.

How can Berwick Care help?

From within our specialist medical equipment range, we have many products suited to patients suffering from huntington’s disease, including Huntington's chair from our range of specialist seating for huntingston's disease.

First and foremost, going back to Chorea and the linked article at the start, it is paramount that the patient with Huntington’s is protected from harming themselves and others from the symptoms of Chorea which involves involuntary, random, and continuous movement while a person is awake.

These problems can affect quality of life as they limit an individual's ability to complete daily activities independently. Given that patients can spend a high proportion of their time in bed we offer a specialist bed for huntington's disease.

Huntington's Disease Healthcare Bed

Our Huntington’s profiling bed is a fully adjustable hospital bed with electrically controlled padded protective side rails which form what is known as the cocoon.

The cocoon is specifically designed to assist and overcome chorea symptoms and a much-needed safe sleeping environment is provided by the use of the positioning system and padded side rails.

The HiLo function eliminates transfer risks to carers and patient as it allows for the patient to be cared for on the bed. Pressure prevention memory foam mattress with breathable waterproof mattress protector with solid foam edging to reduce the risk of entrapment.

Rounded edges of the bed further enhance safety and do not detract from the aesthetics of the bed, but further enhances them. These beds have been tested and proved to resist the stress that occurs with patients with chorea.

The team at Berwick understands the concerns you may have for your clients or the worries their loved ones may have, and our key focus throughout is to reassure.

Berwick Care

Holistic Approach

Fully Trained Team

Sound Advice

Reassurance

Genuine Care

Specialist Medical Equipment

 

For further help and assistance to help guide you through any questions you may have, or just to familiarise yourself with Huntington's Disease, our friendly team are always ready and willing to help. We have also included a useful link for you through to the Huntington's Disease Association (HDA). This is an extremely supportive website dedicated to those affected with or by Huntington's Chorea.