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Parkinson’s disease (PD) is basically a neurodegenerative condition that affects the nerve cells of the patient. This progressive disorder is named after James Parkinson’s, who wrote the first detailed essay on “Shanking Palsy” in 1817.
Parkinson’s affects people of all races and cultures. A study shows that nearly 7 million Indians are estimated to be affected with Parkinson’s disease. The condition gets more common with the increasing age. In most cases, the disease affects people above 60 years of age. But there are rare chances of getting affected with PD before the age of 50.
SYMPTOMS:
Parkinson’s Disease can be classified as a movement disorder. The common symptoms of PD include stiffness, tremor and slow movement. Tremor may get worse when the patient has anxiety or high emotion. Stiffness can also make the daily tasks difficult to handle.
The symptoms of Parkinson’s disease can be divided as follows:
Motor symptoms
Tremors
Rigidity
Bradykinesia
Impaired posture and balance
Non-motor symptoms
Constipation
Skin sensations and pain
Speech & swallowing difficulties
Depression
CAUSES:
Parkinson’s Disease occurs, when certain nerve cells (neurons) in the brain gradually lose the normal condition.
The symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease occur due to the loss of neurons that produce a chemical messenger in the brain called dopamine. The decrease in the level of dopamine creates abnormal brain cavity which leads to Parkinson’s Disease.
Tips to avoid Parkinson’s Disease:
Folic acid in food helps to reduce the risks of Parkinson’s Disease. Folic acid is abundant in fresh raw vegetables. Incorporating more vegetables and vegetable juices into your daily diet may help to prevent the condition.
Here are some tips to prevent Parkinson’s Disease;
Eat Fresh and Raw Vegetables
Involve more in yoga and exercise
Avoid High Cholesterol fat
Vitamin D
Caffeine
Avoid or reduce the intake of alcohol
Avoid excess iron
Avoid pesticides
Diagnosis:
There are no specific methods to diagnose Parkinson’s Disease. A neurologist can identify the Parkinson’s disease with the signs, symptoms, neurological examinations, physical examination and also with the Patient’s medical history.
The doctor may ask the patient to take the test such as Blood test, Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), Ultrasound of the brain and Positron Emission Tomography (PET).
Treatment:
Parkinson ’s Disease cannot be cured completely. But the condition will be manageable with early diagnosis and treatment. Physicians follow different treatment methods based on the condition of the patient. In certain cases, surgery is also applicable.
Support:
Parkinson disease may affect every aspect of a patient’s life. Anxiety and depression are common among PD patients. Some studies show that about half of the PD patients develop dementia at any point of the condition.
Parkinson’s Disease is manageable with proper care, medication and support. The care and support from the family are the most important part in the management of the condition and it helps the patients to get back to a normal life.
