Understanding Parkinson's Disease
Parkinson's disease is the degeneration of nerve cells gradually the middle brain that controls the movement of the body. Symptoms that many people know of the occurrence of Parkinson's disease are tremor or trembling. But the symptoms of Parkinson's disease at an early stage is difficult to recognize, for example:
- Feeling weak or feels stiff on the part of the body.
- Fine tremor in one hand while resting.
- Tremor is getting worse and spreading.
- Muscles felt stiff and inflexible.
- Movements become slow.
- Reduced balance and coordination.
Patients with Parkinson's Disease
Across the world, there were an estimated 6.3 million people suffering from Parkinson's disease. This disease affects all kinds of races and cultures. Everyone can get the disease, but is more common in the elderly and is more likely to occur to men.
Most people begin to experience symptoms of Parkinson's disease when they entered the age of 50 years. But there are about 5 percent of people who have symptoms at the age of 40 years.
Causes of Parkinson's Disease
Parkinson's disease affects a small section of the midbrain called susbstantia nigra. The function of the substantia nigra is sending messages to the nerves in the spinal cord that control the muscles in the body. Messages are sent from the brain cells, to the nerves and muscles by using chemical compounds called neurotransmitters. One of the main neurotransmitter produced by the brain cells in the substantia nigra is dopamine.
The setting movement of the body is affected by dopamine. When the amount of dopamine decreases will cause brain activity will be disrupted. This is what causes the appearance of signs and symptoms of Parkinson's disease.
The decrease in dopamine is still unknown. But there are several factors that can trigger it, such as heredity and environmental factors.
Treatment of Parkinson's Disease
Until now, Parkinson's disease do not have a cure. Treatment and handling are also available only intended to relieve the symptoms experienced. Treatment is done to maintain the quality of life of patients to be able to move as normal as possible.
Step treatment available is physiotherapy, medication, and if necessary, surgery. Parkinson's disease in the early stages, the symptoms tend to be mild and do not need special handling. But in order to know the development of the condition, a routine inspection will be carried out.
Now the development of Parkinson's disease is quite advanced. People with this condition can live as much as possible by the progress of treatment and handling techniques that exist.
Along with the development of this disease, Parkinson's disease will require the help of others in doing daily routine. There are some who greatly helped by medication but there are also some who feel limited effect of treatment.
Treatment of Parkinson's Disease
Treatment is focused on Parkinson's disease to relieve symptoms and keep patients can keep daily activities as much as possible. Until now, there is no medicine that can cure the disease completely.
In the early stages of Parkinson's disease, the treatment may not be necessary, given the symptoms are still mild. But regular meetings with doctors advised to keep an eye on your health condition.
Learn and ask the risks and benefits of each type of treatment is done for Parkinson's disease. With this, you can more easily define and follow processes existing treatments.
Therapy for Parkinson's Disease
Here are some recommended therapy to help relieve the symptoms that arise as a result of Parkinson's disease:
- Physiotherapy. This therapy is used to help patients cope with muscle stiffness and pain in the joints when moving. So with this therapy the patient can move freely and maintain flexibility. This therapy will train the ability and stamina so that the patient can perform the activity without depending on others.
- Dietary changes. One of the symptoms of Parkinson's disease is the occurrence of constipation. This condition can be reduced by eating more high-fiber food and water. If patients experience low blood pressure, especially when stood up, salt intake can be increased to help overcome them.
- Speech therapy. Patients with Parkinson's disease tend to have difficulty or trouble speaking. If necessary, the speech therapist can help improve the way of speaking.
The main symptoms, such as tremors and movement disorders in the body, can be reduced with medication. But not all drugs are suitable for everyone, and reactions to the drug are also different. The following are the drugs commonly given:
- Levodopa. The drug is absorbed by the nerve cells in the brain and dopamine is converted into chemical compounds. By increasing levels of dopamine, levodopa help overcome the body movement disorders. Another type of drug levodopa used to cope with mood disorders is duodopa.
- Dopamine agonist. This drug works to replace dopamine in the brain with the same effect as levodopa. Dopamine agonist commonly used in the early stages of Parkinson's because the side effects are not as strong as levodopa.
- Monoamine oxidase-B inhibitors (MAO-B). These drugs inhibit the function of the brain chemical compound that destroys dopamine. Included in MAO-B is selegiline and rasagiline. MAO-B can be taken with levodopa or dopamine agonist. These drugs help relieve the symptoms of Parkinson's disease, although the effect is not as strong as levodopa.
- Catechol-O-methyltransferase inhibitors (COMT). This drug is specifically given to people with Parkinson's disease in its advanced stages. These drugs inhibit the enzyme that destroys levodopa.
Operations on Parkinson's Disease
Surgery is only recommended if treatment with medication in Parkinson's disease can not relieve symptoms. This operation is known as deep brain stimulisation or deep brain stimulation which works by stimulating parts of the brain that is disrupted by Parkinson's disease. Although not a cure, this procedure can reduce the symptoms of Parkinson's for some sufferers.
Overcoming Other symptoms of Parkinson's Disease Due
Parkinson's disease can cause symptoms such as depression and continued anxiety attacks. To fix this, you can do self-treatment, therapy, or with drugs. Read more about the treatment of depression.
Insomnia arising from Parkinson's disease can be treated by adjusting your bedtime routine. Therapy and medication can also help in overcoming insomnia. Read more about the treatment of insomnia.
To cope with the symptoms of urinary incontinence, you can practice how to tighten the pelvic floor muscles, use with medications and surgery in severe cases.
Parkinson's sufferers can also experience dysphagia or difficulty in swallowing. When this happens, the food will need to be processed and softened before being given to patients.
I was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease a year ago at the age of 69. For several months I had noticed tremors in my right hand and the shaking of my right foot when sitting, as the disease progressed i totally lost balance. Neurologist had me walk down the hall and said I didn't swing my right arm. I had never noticed! I was in denial for a while as there is no history in my family. I used amantadine, Carbidopa/levodopa and physical therapy to strenghten muscles all failed. In 2016 a friend suggested Newife Heral Clinic who have successful heral treatment for Parkinson's disease, i contacted the heral clinic via their website and purchased the Parkinson's disease herbal supplement, i used the herbs for 7 weeks and my symptoms were reveresed. Its been 6 months no sign of parkinson's disease, contact this herbal clinic via their email (newlifeherbal @ gmail. com) or visit their website (www. newlifeherbalclinic. weebly. com)
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