Parkinson’s disease is caused due to a problem with certain nerve cells in the brain and affects the way you move.
Dopamine, the chemical created by nerve cells sends signals to the part of your brain that controls movement. These nerve cells break down when you have Parkinson’s. Then you no longer have enough dopamine, and you have trouble moving the way you want to.
Over a period of many years, Parkinson’s disease tends to get worse. But there are good treatments that can help you live a full life.
Causes of Parkinson’s disease
It is not clear as to what makes these nerve cells break down. But scientists are doing a lot of research to look for the answer. Abnormal genes seem to lead to Parkinson’s disease in some people. But so far, there is not enough proof to show that it is always inherited.
Symptoms of Parkinson’s disease:
The four main symptoms of Parkinson’s are:
* Tremor accompanied by shaking or trembling. It may affect your hands, legs, arms or head.
* Stiff muscles
* Slow movement
* Problems with walking or balance
Tremor is one of the most common signs of the disease, although not everyone has it. More importantly, not everyone with a tremor has Parkinson’s disease. Tremor may be worse when you are awake and may get better when you are asleep.
Parkinson’s disease affects muscles all through your body. It can lead to problems like trouble swallowing or constipation. A person with Parkinson’s may also develop a fixed or blank expression, trouble speaking, and other problems. Some people may also develop dementia. People usually start to have symptoms between the ages of 50 and 60, but in some people symptoms start earlier.
Diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease:
Your symptoms and your past health on the basis of a neurological exam will help you know about the existence of the disease. A neurological exam includes questions and tests that show how well your nerves are working. Your doctor will check the way you move, your muscle strength and reflexes, and your vision. In some cases, your doctor may have you try a medicine. There are no lab or blood tests to help check the existence of this condition. You can have an MRI to look for signs of a stroke or brain tumor.
How is it treated?
Though there is no cure for Parkinson’s disease as yet, there are several types of medicines that can control the symptoms and make the disease easier to live with.
The best drug for controlling the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease is Levodopa. Since this drug has side effects the doctors delay the use of levodopa till the last stage of the disease to postpone the side effects.
Disclaimer: The contents of this article are for informational purposes only. We aim to be as accurate as possible, but there may be some unintentional omission of information. The content is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding your medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on within this article.
By: Tom Chuong About the Author:
Quicken 2010 The Official Guide (Quicken Press)
by Maria Langer
Amazon Price: $16.49
Customer Review: I've started using the book. It is not for novices, but I'm working through it. Good reference book to have.
Pro PayPal E-Commerce (Expert's Voice)
by Damon Williams
Amazon Price: $38.59
Customer Review: This book is aimed squarely at developers, however it does not assume that the reader knows the first thing about PayPal, and the introductory chapters do not require any coding background to understand.
The book provides a comprehensive...
Essentials of Banking (Essentials Series)
by Deborah K. Dilley
Amazon Price: $29.67
Customer Review: This book is an ideal introduction to banking for those schools that give you a degree really fast (and leave you with a lot of debt and/ a questionable degree). This is also ideal for vocational high schools as well. If your looking for a book w/ a ...