All You Need To Know About Parkinson's Disease.
What is Parkinson�s disease?
Named after James Parkinson, Parkinson�s disease, or simply Parkinson�s, is a type
of degenerative medical condition that affects the central nervous system � the part of
the nervous system that comprises the brain and the spinal cord.
This type of disease causes damage to the brain over time and is characterized by several
symptoms, such as loss of muscular coordination and involuntary vibration.
Causes of Parkinson�s disease.
Parkinson�s affects primarily neurons in the midsection of the brain called �substantia
nigra.
This part of the brain � substantia nigra � is an important part of the central nervous
system as it is the location for the production of dopamine.
Dopamine is a neurotransmitter (chemical messenger) that is responsible for regulating emotions
and body movement.
A person with Parkinson�s disease has low levels of dopamine due to a loss (death) of
neurons in the substantia nigra.
It is this decrease in dopamine that leads to the many symptoms associated with the disease.
The exact cause of the loss of neurons in the substantia nigra remains unclear; hence,
Parkinson�s disease is most times regarded as an idiopathic disorder.
However, researchers believe that several factors contribute to the cause of the disease.
Risk factors for Parkinson�s disease.
The following are the major factors that contribute to the risk of developing Parkinson�s disease.
Age.
Doubtless, age is the most prominent risk factor for Parkinson�s disease.
Generally, Parkinson�s disease affects people older than 60 years of age.
However, the symptoms begin to develop when a person is above 50 years.
Gender.
The gender of a person is another factor.
It is considered that men are more likely to develop Parkinson�s disease than women.
Family history.
While this factor is not as prominent as the first two, people who have had family members
with Parkinson�s are also likely to develop the disorder.
Environmental factors.
It has also been found that prolonged exposure to pesticides and herbicides can also increase
the risk of developing Parkinson�s disease.
Trauma to the head and never taking caffeine may also contribute to the risk.
Symptoms of Parkinson�s Disease.
Parkinson�s disease is characterized by three major symptoms, which are.
Impairment in coordination of the muscles.
Tremor or involuntary vibration of some parts of the body.
Slowness in movement (Bradykinesia).
Aside from the three major symptoms of Parkinson�s disease, the following are some other symptoms
that the sufferers may experience.
Lack of sleep.
Anxiety.
Depression.
Stiffness.
Dementia.
Anosmia or loss of the sense of smell.
Loss of memory.
Confusion.
Difficulty writing.
Changes in the way the person speaks.
More sweating.
Stages of Parkinson�s disease.
It is also important to note that the intensity of the symptoms of Parkinson�s disease can
vary depending on the stage of the condition.
The stage of the disease usually depends on the number of years that the person has been
living with it.
Researchers differ on the number of stages of Parkinson�s.
Some use a 3-staging system for the condition, while others use 4 or 5.
According to the Parkinson�s Disease Foundation, there are five stages of the disease.
Stage 1.
At this stage, the primary symptoms are usually less severe and do not disrupt the affected
person�s daily routine.
The symptoms are only experienced on one side of the body.
Stage 2.
During stage 2, the symptoms get worse and begin to affect both sides of the person�s
body.
Stage 3.
Here, in addition to the primary symptoms, the person begins to experience Bradykinesia
(slow movement) and imbalance.
Stage 4.
At stage 4, the symptoms become so severe that the person cannot be able to do things
by themselves.
Stage 5.
This is the most intense stage of Parkinson�s where the sufferer begins to get hallucinations,
and is unable to stand without help.
Diagnosis of Parkinson�s Disease.
The symptoms associated with Parkinson�s disease can also be found in other health
conditions; hence, a proper diagnosis needs to be done to ascertain the disease and prevent
a misdiagnosis.
Although there is no particular test for Parkinson�s diagnosis, some guidelines have been introduced
to aid the process.
An example is the Unified Parkinson�s Disease Rating Scale.
While there is no specific test to distinguish Parkinson�s, diagnosis of Parkinson�s
disease will usually involve a combination of tests and neurological examinations on
the affected person.
This diagnostic process for Parkinson�s is usually done by a neurologist (brain doctor).
The process begins with an assessment of the patient�s condition by referring to his
or her medical history.
Here, the doctor asks the patient several questions, including whether any other family
member has the condition.
The neurological examination involves checks for movement and coordination.
Prognosis of Parkinson�s disease.
Parkinson�s disease affects people differently.
This means that, besides the common symptoms, the type of symptoms that a person gets and
the time when the symptoms arise are unique to each person.
The symptoms of Parkinson�s can get worse as the disease progresses.
As a result, it can be difficult for the affected person to carry out normal daily activities
without help.
However, while most persons will generally experience improvement in the symptoms, a
few may become critically affected, even after treatment.
And as previously mentioned, Parkinson�s disease does not cause death in itself, but
complications can.
That said, the advancements in medicine are continually making it possible for people
with Parkinson�s to live a normal life.
Conventional treatment options for Parkinson�s disease.
Presently, there is no known cure for Parkinson�s disease.
This is in part because of the fact that the exact cause of the disease remains unclear.
However, the symptoms of the disease can be managed through a combination of several treatment
methods.
Common medications for the disease include drugs that help in elevating dopamine levels
in the brain, medications to help improve non-motor symptom, and other drugs used for
altering some brain chemicals.
Among the conventional treatment options for Parkinson�s disease, levodopa (L-dopa) is
regarded as the most effective.
Levodopa is a form of dopa � amino acid that is converted to dopamine in the brain
� that is used is used for treating the symptoms of Parkinson�s.
However, prolonged use of L-dopa can cause adverse side effects.
When all treatment options have been used and the symptoms are not waning despite the
use of medications, surgery can be used to bring temporary relief.
One type of surgery called DBS (deep brain stimulation), which is a process that involves
stimulation of the brain by implanting electrodes in it, is common for patients who show little
response to medications.
In the next video, we will take a look at some effective home remedies to manage the
disease.
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