Living with Parkinson’s
According to the data from the American Medical Association over 6 million people globally have been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease.
Treatable once diagnosed, Parkinson’s is a neurodegenerative disorder that targets dopamine-producing neurons in the substantia nigra, the part of the brain that affects reward and movement.
While the exact causes of Parkinson’s Disease remain unknown, there are a number of treatment options available for patients, including medications, various types of therapy, and surgery.
It is important for those diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease to remember to stay positive. With treatment and medication, it is possible to have a good quality of life with Parkinson’s.
Symptoms
One of the challenging aspects of diagnosing and treating Parkinson’s is that it often develops slowly with patients often experiencing symptoms gradually.
Another problem is that not every patient is the same. The onset of symptoms is often different from person to person because Parkinson’s often adapts to an individual’s neurological system differently.
This symptom is typically seen in about 70% of cases as the first sign that something is going on. The term “resting” is used because the person is doing just that, resting, and has a tremor present. This is different from a “purposeful tremor” that is seen when some individuals attempt to perform a task. A resting tremor usually starts as one finger, hand, or foot moving (on one side of the body) with the inability to control or stop it. This tremor usually stops on its own though when a person begins an action.
The medical term for this is known as Bradykinesia. This is a true feature of Parkinson’s that defines it from other disorders. With this symptom, a person appears abnormally still. This includes movement-related to walking, repetitive actions, and even facial expression. Eventually, it affects the ability to complete daily living activities (buttoning a shirt or brushing teeth) and speech.
The muscles involved usually are located in the neck, shoulders, and legs. The person will experience stiffness that does not let up. The limbs will remain rigid and arms do not swing as normal when walking. This rigidity can be uncomfortable and at times quite painful.
Your posture may become stooped, or you may have balance problems as a result of Parkinson’s disease
In Parkinson’s disease, you may have a decreased ability to perform unconscious movements, including blinking, smiling, or swinging your arms when you walk.
You may have speech problems as a result of Parkinson’s disease. You may speak softly, quickly, slur, or hesitate before talking. Your speech may be more of a monotone rather than with the usual inflections.
It may become hard to write, and your writing may appear small.
