Causes & Symptoms Of Parkinson Disease
Parkinson disease is a neurodegenerative condition that usually affects men around the age of 60. It affects neurons that are responsible for muscle movement. These neurons produce a chemical named dopamine.
As the disease progresses, more neurons die and the body will lack dopamine not being able to control muscle movement. There is no exact cause known for this condition, but correlations have been made between Parkinson disease and exposure to pesticides.
Predisposition Factors
Research found that age is a key factor to the disposition of Parkinson disease; 90% of Parkinson sufferers are above 60 years. Even the earliest symptoms of Parkinson disease comes on around 60 years old.
But the risk increases between 60 and 75 years; it drops drastically after that age range. Hence, someone above 75 years old will probably not contract Parkinson disease. Today, over 3% of those above 65 years are inflicted with Parkinson disease; this figure is expected to double in the following half century.
The Gender Factor
Men are found to be more susceptible to Parkinson disease than women although the scientific reason is still not clear. It could be that the women have the estrogen hormone which reduces the possibility of this disease but insufficient research is performed to confirm this reason.
However, there are cases where women with hysterectomies are at a higher risk of contracting Parkinson disease whereas those who undergone hormone replacements had a lower tendency. This implies the role of estrogen in warding of Parkinson disease.
Parkinson disease seems to accelerate in its de-habilitating features in men more than women. Women with Parkinson disease are affected in their movements while men tend to shake or experience rigidity.
Heredity Factor
It could be an inherited gene if the disease comes on before 40 years old. Otherwise, it is not considered a hereditary factor.
Ethnicity Factor
Parkinson disease may be subject to ethnicity where Caucasians tend to be at a higher risk than African Americans or Asian Americans. But certain research indicates a higher Parkinson disease tendency for those who perform more thinking processes.
Other Factors
Certain evidences point to the possibility of caffeine offering protection from Parkinson disease. Regular coffee drinkers seem to enjoy a lower risk.
Symptoms
Most common symptoms include tremors, stiffness of arms and legs, slowness of movement, poor balance, depression, insomnia and dementia.
The neurons that produce dopamine and are responsible for muscle movements, are the neurons from basal ganglia. These neurons form masses at the base of the brain and they communicate trough synapses. Dopamine maintains a normal function of these synapses.
Parkinson disease can be easily diagnosed with brain imaging techniques. SPECT scan image is usually used. Parkinson disease appears at brain imaging, as regression of the basal ganglia. Neurons that form these masses die and this can be seen at a scan.
Slower Movements
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Parkinson disease tends to slow your movements progressively as much as 50% right when you are in the midst of an activity. For example, your walking tends to drop to a slow pace and it is frustrating not to be able to pick up your pace again.
Drowsiness
As the disease advances, you will be prone to dropping off; you may be aware of your environment and can hear the sounds around you but your attention and focus are weak. You nod off easily and seem to be asleep but you are alert in your mind.
Stiff arms during walking
Parkinson disease affects your muscle movements. When you walk, your arms do not swing as they normally do. Even a conscious attempt to cause your arms to move when you walk is not helpful as the reaction is involuntary.
Falling Tendency
Great efforts must be made to ensure that a Parkinson disease sufferer does not fall as falling easily is one of its symptoms. Falling can lead to a lot of health complications with bones becoming more brittle as one grows older. Broken bones are harder to heal in old age. Hence, a Parkinson disease sufferer must be very careful in his ways to avoid falling since the muscle coordination is not as good as before.
Cramped Muscles
The leg muscles and fingers get cramped easily especially when the patient remain too long in any one position. The thumb and index finger tend to cramp easily when there is no movement about them for some time. Hence, it is recommended that Parkinson patients perform more muscle exercises to keep them in suppleness.
Auto Stretching
In the mornings, a Parkinson sufferer may feel his muscles being stretched automatically with his body becoming rigid for about 10 seconds. This is an involuntary action which the person has little control over.
Shaking
Other Parkinson sufferers may experience some shaking of their hands while others do not. It depends on the stage of the disease and the deterioration of your body muscles.
Treatment and Cure
There is no cure for Parkinson disease, but there are a variety of medicines that help to fight the symptoms. Levodopa is most commonly used, to control slow movement and stiffness. This substance is converted into dopamine by the neurons. Another treatment used especially in early stages is Elderyl.
This prevents dopamine from being destroyed. It is mostly well tolerated, but it could have side-effects like nausea, dizziness, abdominal pain, confusion, headaches and hallucinations. Trihexyphenidyl is used to control restlessness and shakiness. For memory loss and dizziness, Piribedil is usually prescribed.
Your physician is most qualified to give the specific treatment for your needs. Every person is unique and the treatment is given according to each and everyone’s needs. Some says that, natural treatments might work. Antioxidant water is said to relief join pain and some patients said that it brought taste back.
Approach To Parkinson Disease
It is very important that Parkinson disease is diagnosed as quickly as possible, because, loss of dopamine producing neurons may be prevented and the disease doesn’t reach severe stages. Researches are sill being made in this domain and may be a cure can appear any time soon.
Products To Enhance Mobility
There is a great necessity to have the right tools and resources to encourage mobility for Parkinson disease sufferers.
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