Parkinson’s disease is often associated with older persons, over the age of 50, but a significant number of cases starts within the 40s. Usually these signs and symptoms of Parkinson’s goes unnoticed either due to the low intensity, of symptoms, ignorance about this disease or fear about confronting the prospect of being diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease.
Classifying different stages of Parkinson’s disease is essential for monitoring the progression of the condition as well as identifying any headway made with certain treatment options. There are generally five stages of Parkinson’s disease and due to the slow progression of Parkinson’s, it may be difficult at times to clearly categorize individual cases into specific stages. The intensity of symptoms of Parkinson’s disease may vary, sometimes even on a daily basis, and certain cases may even skip some of the early stages of Parkinson’s disease.
When a person is first diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease it can seem for them like the world is coming to an end, this isn’t the case however for once diagnosis is made although there isn’t a cure steps can be taken to treat it. Research into Parkinson’s disease is coming along in leaps and bounds and new drug treatments are being continually developed.
In the meantime there are several ways that the symptoms of those suffering from Parkinson’s disease can be helped. Here is some practical advice for those suffering from the disease and for their family and friends. (more…)
The exact cause of Parkinson’s disease isn’t known and it is a disease which gradually gets worse over time and affects thousands of people throughout the world. It is a disease which affects people of all races, gender and age, though it is more prevalent in those over the age of 65. It is a particularly debilitating disease with symptoms that affect the movement, gait, posture and speech in the sufferer.
Parkinson’s disease is the degeneration of an area deep in the brain called the basal ganglia, or to be more precise the substantia nigra. This area in the brain contains black pigmented cells which in a normal human being produce chemical transmitters, of which the most important is dopamine. These transmitters are chemical which pass on messages from one cell to the other, they either stimulate or inhabit as necessary. (more…)
Since Parkinson’s disease is brought on due to the lack of Dopamine in the brain much of the treatment for the disease relies on ways of replacing, stimulating and substitution of this chemical. Although some very effective drugs have been developed in the treatment of Parkinson’s they do however have their disadvantages, therefore the treatment of the disease doesn’t just rely on medication but on several measures combined together as a package. Some of which include:.
As Parkinson’s is a chronic disease which progresses the overall aim of the treatment is to maintain the sufferer’s quality of life for as long as possible and not to cure the disease itself. The type of treatment available for you depends on certain factors such as: (more…)
Parkinson’s disease is a disease which affects the control of muscles and affects the movement, speech and posture. It is a degenerative disease of the body’s central nervous system and one which is often characterised by hand tremor, slow physical movement and rigidity of the muscles.
The excessive muscle contraction that is foremost in Parkinson’s disease is caused by insufficient formation of Dopamine, which is a chemical which is naturally produced in our body. While the majority of Parkinson’s disease has no known cause it can sometimes be caused through head trauma, toxicity, genes and other medical disorders. (more…)
The biggest single risk factor associated with contracting Parkinson’s disease is old age; men also stand a higher chance of it than do women. Family history is also another factor particularly when a first generation family member has the disease, if this family member is a parent or sibling then chances are estimated to double for yourself to developing the disease. It is thought that this increased risk is due to a number of factors including genetic and environmental which close relations have in common.
The one single factor which has been most consistently associated with a reduced risk of Parkinson’s disease is smoking, the exact reasons for this has never been determined but smoking does seem to offer some protection against developing Parkinson’s disease. However the negative effects that smoking has on our health far outweighs the benefit of not developing Parkinson’s from smoking, it should by no means be considered as a way of preventing the disease. (more…)
There are certain mental problems which have been associated with Parkinson’s disease as symptoms of the disease. These include hallucinations, paranoia and delusions, some of which are thought to be brought on by the side effects of medication while some may be complications of the disease itself.
Hallucinations, paranoia and delusion are all perception disturbances; the most common form of hallucination is the patient’s ability to see things which others don’t. Delusions are personal beliefs that go against fact or reason and are false beliefs.
Paranoia usually brings feelings of being followed or beliefs that you are going to be harmed in some unforeseen way. The good news is that these disturbances of the mind can be controlled in almost all patients suffering from them as part of Parkinson’s disease. (more…)
There are many things a person can do to help both themselves and their doctor when suffering from Parkinson’s disease, joining a support group, taking a regular form of exercise plan and maintaining a healthy diet are just some of the possibilities.
Support groups can play a crucial role in the emotional aspect of a sufferer’s life and how they cope with living with the disease. Support groups provide a way of asking questions, sharing stories and experiences of the disease and for developing friendships with people in the same predicament as you.
In addition to live support groups several forums can be found online which provide help, support and advice for those suffering from Parkinson’s and the family of those suffering. (more…)
Some of the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease will affect your muscles and joints, they will cause the sufferer to move more slowly and feel weakness, tightness and pain in the joints and muscles. There is however a lot that can be done to alleviate these symptoms and get you a little more mobile in the process, physical and occupational therapy are just two of these ways.
While physical therapy isn’t a cure for the disease it can help the patient to compensate for changes which the disease brings about, physical therapy entails the sufferer learning new techniques to help and improve movement by learning strategies and using equipment. Your physical therapist will be able to show you exercise routines which can be done in the home and which will help to both strengthen and loosen muscles. (more…)
