Parkinson’s disease Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatment

Parkinson’s disease is a progressive nervous system that impacts motion. Signs start progressively, in some cases starting with a hardly obvious shake in simply one hand. Tremblings prevail, however the condition likewise typically causes rigidity or slowing down of movement.

In the onset of Parkinson’s disease, your face may reveal little or no expression. Your arms might not turn when you stroll. Your speech may become soft or slurred. Parkinson’s illness signs and symptoms intensify as your problem progresses gradually.

Although Parkinson’s disease can not be cured, drugs might substantially improve your symptoms. Periodically, your doctor may recommend surgical treatment to control particular regions of your brain and also improve your signs.

Parkinson’s Symptoms

Parkinson’s disease symptoms and signs can be different for every person. Early indicators may be mild and also go undetected. Signs and symptoms frequently begin on one side of your body as well as normally remain even worse on that particular side, even after symptoms begin to affect both sides.

Parkinson’s signs and symptoms might consist of:

• Tremor. A tremor, or shaking, usually begins in a limb, often your hand or fingers. You may rub your thumb and forefinger back and forth, known as a pill-rolling tremor. Your hand may tremble when it’s at rest.
• Slowed movement (bradykinesia). Over time, Parkinson’s disease may slow your movement, making simple tasks difficult and time-consuming. Your steps may become shorter when you walk. It may be difficult to get out of a chair. You may drag your feet as you try to walk.
• Rigid muscles. Muscle stiffness may occur in any part of your body. The stiff muscles can be painful and limit your range of motion.
• Impaired posture and balance. Your posture may become stooped, or you may have balance problems as a result of Parkinson’s disease.
• Loss of automatic movements. You may have a decreased ability to perform unconscious movements, including blinking, smiling or swinging your arms when you walk.
• Speech changes. You may speak softly, quickly, slur or hesitate before talking. Your speech may be more of a monotone rather than have the usual inflections.
• Writing changes. It may become hard to write, and your writing may appear small.

When to see a doctor

See your medical professional if you have any one of the symptoms related to Parkinson’s condition– not only to diagnose your problem but also to eliminate various other causes for your symptoms.

Parkinson’s Causes

In Parkinson’s illness, specific afferent neuron (nerve cells) in the mind slowly break down or die. Many of the signs are because of a loss of neurons that create a chemical carrier in your mind called dopamine. When dopamine levels decrease, it triggers unusual mind task, resulting in damaged motion as well as other symptoms of Parkinson’s disease.

The source of Parkinson’s illness is unknown, however a number of elements show up to contribute, consisting of:

• Genes. Researchers have identified specific genetic mutations that can cause Parkinson’s disease. But these are uncommon except in rare cases with many family members affected by Parkinson’s disease.

  However, certain gene variations appear to increase the risk of Parkinson’s disease but with a relatively small risk of Parkinson’s disease for each of these genetic markers.

• Environmental triggers. Exposure to certain toxins or environmental factors may increase the risk of later Parkinson’s disease, but the risk is relatively small.

Researchers have also noted that many changes occur in the brains of people with Parkinson’s disease, although it’s not clear why these changes occur. These changes include:

• The presence of Lewy bodies. Clumps of specific substances within brain cells are microscopic markers of Parkinson’s disease. These are called Lewy bodies, and researchers believe these Lewy bodies hold an important clue to the cause of Parkinson’s disease.
• Alpha-synuclein found within Lewy bodies. Although many substances are found within Lewy bodies, scientists believe an important one is the natural and widespread protein called alpha-synuclein (a-synuclein). It’s found in all Lewy bodies in a clumped form that cells can’t break down. This is currently an important focus among Parkinson’s disease researchers.

Risk factors

Risk factors for Parkinson’s disease consist of:

• Age. Young adults rarely experience Parkinson’s disease. It ordinarily begins in middle or late life, and the risk increases with age. People usually develop the disease around age 60 or older.
• Heredity. Having a close relative with Parkinson’s disease increases the chances that you’ll develop the disease. However, your risks are still small unless you have many relatives in your family with Parkinson’s disease.
• Sex. Men are more likely to develop Parkinson’s disease than are women.
• Exposure to toxins. Ongoing exposure to herbicides and pesticides may slightly increase your risk of Parkinson’s disease.

Complications

Parkinson’s condition is commonly accompanied by these extra issues, which might be treatable:

• Thinking difficulties. You may experience cognitive problems (dementia) and thinking difficulties. These usually occur in the later stages of Parkinson’s disease. Such cognitive problems aren’t very responsive to medications.
• Depression and emotional changes. You may experience depression, sometimes in the very early stages. Receiving treatment for depression can make it easier to handle the other challenges of Parkinson’s disease.

  You may also experience other emotional changes, such as fear, anxiety or loss of motivation. Doctors may give you medications to treat these symptoms.

• Swallowing problems. You may develop difficulties with swallowing as your condition progresses. Saliva may accumulate in your mouth due to slowed swallowing, leading to drooling.
• Chewing and eating problems. Late-stage Parkinson’s disease affects the muscles in your mouth, making chewing difficult. This can lead to choking and poor nutrition.
• Sleep problems and sleep disorders. People with Parkinson’s disease often have sleep problems, including waking up frequently throughout the night, waking up early or falling asleep during the day.

  People may also experience rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder, which involves acting out your dreams. Medications may help your sleep problems.

• Bladder problems. Parkinson’s disease may cause bladder problems, including being unable to control urine or having difficulty urinating.
• Constipation. Many people with Parkinson’s disease develop constipation, mainly due to a slower digestive tract.

You may also experience:

• Blood pressure changes. You may feel dizzy or lightheaded when you stand due to a sudden drop in blood pressure (orthostatic hypotension).
• Smell dysfunction. You may experience problems with your sense of smell. You may have difficulty identifying certain odors or the difference between odors.
• Fatigue. Many people with Parkinson’s disease lose energy and experience fatigue, especially later in the day. The cause isn’t always known.
• Pain. Some people with Parkinson’s disease experience pain, either in specific areas of their bodies or throughout their bodies.
• Sexual dysfunction. Some people with Parkinson’s disease notice a decrease in sexual desire or performance.

Prevention

Because the reason for Parkinson’s is unknown, tried and tested methods to stop the condition also continue to be a secret.

Some research study has actually shown that regular cardiovascular exercise may decrease the risk of Parkinson’s disease .

Some other study has shown that individuals that eat high levels of caffeine– which is located in coffee, tea and also cola– obtain Parkinson’s disease less usually than those that don’t consume it. Eco-friendly tea is likewise associated with a minimized risk of creating Parkinson’s disease. Nevertheless, it is still not known whether high levels of caffeine actually shields against getting Parkinson’s, or is related in a few other way. Currently there is not nearly enough evidence to recommend alcohol consumption caffeinated drinks to safeguard versus Parkinson’s.