Parkinson’s disease is a chronic condition that affects the central nervous system and its primary symptom is tremor, especially on one side of the body. It’s known as the “silent assassin” because, although it slowly destroys your body, you may not immediately realize that you’re suffering from it. Some of the other common signs that you might have Parkinson’s disease include:
- Difficulty walking or turning around (trivial tasks that you might do daily)
- Fluctuating moods/interests
- Trouble with writing/penmanship
- Memory loss
- Decreased verbal skills
- Inability to focus on one thing for more than a few minutes at a time
If you suspect that you or a loved one may be suffering from Parkinson’s disease, it’s important to seek help as soon as possible. There are a variety of treatments available that may be able to help improve the condition or even reverse it. By getting the right treatment as soon as possible, you may be able to maintain your quality of life for a while longer. Let’s take a closer look at what is Parkinson’s disease and how to treat it.
What is Parkinson’s Disease?
Parkinson’s disease is a neurodegenerative disorder that primarily affects people over the age of 50. It’s named after the English physician John Daniel Parkinson, who first described it in 1854. At the time, he thought that his patient’s symptoms were due to depression, hypochondria, or a hysterical condition. Parkinson’s disease gradually gets worse over time, destroying the nerves that control movement. This leads to the primary symptom of tremor.
Although the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease are fairly clear-cut, there are actually a number of different causes for it. The two most common ones are genetic and environmental. So, if you suspect that you might have Parkinson’s disease, it would be prudent to explore your family history of it. If you have a parent, sibling, or child who has the disease, then you are definitely at risk of developing it yourself. However, if you don’t have a family history of Parkinson’s disease, it might be a bit more difficult to ascertain whether or not you have it. Some doctors suggest that people with Parkinson’s disease are actually a bit more likely to develop other neurological diseases, such as Alzheimer’s or Huntington’s disease. If you’re concerned about whether or not you have Parkinson’s disease, then you may want to have a comprehensive neurological exam performed by a qualified healthcare professional. This will help rule out other neurological conditions that might be causing your symptoms.
How Is Parkinson’s Disease Treated?
The treatment for Parkinson’s disease is generally based on the symptoms that you experience. For example, if you have trouble walking, then doctors will likely recommend that you receive physical therapy or take a class on how to walk again. Similarly, if you have problems with your speech, then speech therapy may be indicated. However, for the vast majority of people with Parkinson’s disease, medication is by far the most effective treatment. The two most common medications used to treat this condition are levadopa and the drug Diphenyl Tetramine (DPT) or carbidopa / levudopa. Your doctor may prescribe a combination of the two to be taken twice a day. There are also other medications and treatments that your doctor may recommend, depending on the severity of your symptoms.
As you may surmise from the above discussion, the treatment for Parkinson’s disease varies from patient to patient. Each person’s case is different and your doctor will likely have to adjust your medication or treatment plan as needed.
What are the Risks of Parkinson’s Disease?
In most cases, people with Parkinson’s disease experience a fairly good quality of life as long as they are treated. This is fortunate, because the disease tends to get progressively worse over time. One of the primary risks associated with Parkinson’s disease is that it accelerates the aging process. As a result, your mental faculties begin to decline faster than your physical ones. This is why it’s important to begin treatment as soon as possible and why it’s crucial to maintain a high degree of functionality as long as possible.
If you have a parent, sibling, or child who has the disease, then you already know what the risks are. If you don’t have any family history of Parkinson’s disease, then you may not know for sure whether or not you have it. One of the best ways to screen for the disease is through genetic tests. These days, it’s quite easy to find out whether or not you have it, simply by performing a simple DNA test. If you’re concerned about whether or not you have Parkinson’s disease, then it would be advisable to have it screened for, either through a family history or a genetic test. It’s also important to note the risks associated with giving birth to a child with the disease. The chances of your having a child with it are relatively good, but it’s still a disease that needs to be considered. The best way to reduce your child’s risk of developing Parkinson’s disease is through genetic testing as well. Parents of children with the disease should also be tested, to determine whether or not they have it themselves. This is important because children with the disease frequently have issues relating to their mental health.
As you might surmise from the information above, there are a number of risks associated with Parkinson’s disease. Some of them are relatively minor, such as the risk of having anxiety or depression. Others are much more serious, such as the risk of becoming completely immobile or of developing dementia. If you have a parent, sibling, or child who has the disease, then you need to be aware of these risks and let your doctor know about them. If you don’t have any family history of the disease, then it may be difficult to know for sure whether or not you have it. However, since it’s such a common disease, there’s still a good chance that you may have it.
In summary, Parkinson’s disease is a fairly common condition. However, since it’s a neurodegenerative disorder, it’s important to remember that it’s not going to get better on its own. In most cases, people with the disease experience a fairly good quality of life as long as they are treated. It’s a disease that accelerates the aging process and your doctor will need to keep a close eye on you, as you get older.
Hopefully, this article has clarified some things for you about Parkinson’s disease. If you have any other questions, please don’t hesitate to ask. Best of luck in your quest for a disease-free life!