Parkinson Disease Symptoms and Treatment
What is Parkinson’s Disease?
Parkinson’s disease (also known as Parkinson disease, Parkinson’s, idiopathic parkinsonism, primary parkinsonism, PD or paralysis agitans) is a progressive debilitating neurodegenerative disorder of the motor system. The disease results in the loss of the neurons or nerve cells that contain dopamine in the substantia niera, the part of the brain that controls movement.
What causes Parkinson’s disease?
The cause is unknown though several factors are considered to be linked to the development of the disease. Approximately 15% of sufferers have a family history of the disease, but it has not been proven whether this is due to genetic or environmental factors. One theory is that environmental factors such as toxins play a part in the neurons ability to produce dopamine. Other theories focus on the neurons dying due to the aging process or because of exposure to free radicals. Though the causes of the disease have not been proven, the following factors increase the risk of Parkinson’s;
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Age
Male
Genetic link to a sufferer
Stress
Head trauma
Environmental exposure to pesticides
Rural living
High fat diet
There are also three factors that have been associated with a decreased risk of Parkinson’s, these are cigarette smoking, anti-oxidants being present in diet and having measles early in life.
Parkinson disease Symptoms
Motor symptoms are the primary symptom, with tremors starting in one area (e.g. a hand or leg) and then developing in other parts of the body. However, not all tremors are due to Parkinson’s disease. Stiffness and slowness in movements are also symptoms of the disease and can cause cramps and soreness. Sufferers may develop issues with walking imbalance, feet shuffling and stooped posture. Parkinson’s disease may also cause swallowing difficulties and gastrointestinal problems such as constipation and incontinence. The disease may inhibit brain function and cause dementia. Sufferers may also experience fatigue, depression and emotional changes.
What are the treatments available?
There is currently no known cure for the disease so treatments are targeted at managing the symptoms of the disease. There are many medications to treat the wide range of symptoms related to the disease. Levodopa is often the most effective treatment for sufferers. The medicine converts to dopamine within the brain thereby reducing many Parkinson disease symptoms. However, the effectiveness of Levodopa has been found to decrease over time and also to have unwanted side effects (including nausea and vomiting). Physiotherapy can help improve muscle strength, improving gait and balance for sufferers, while some patients have successfully had their tremors treated by brain surgery. Counseling may be beneficial especially after their initial diagnosis for the sufferer and their family.
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