What is Parkinson’s disease?
Parkinson’s disease is a progressive disorder that affects the nervous system and the parts of the body it controls, and its symptoms begin slowly. The first symptom of Parkinson’s disease is often a barely noticeable tremor in only one hand, and although tremors are common, the disorder may also cause stiffness or slowness of movement.
Additionally, in the early stages of Parkinson’s disease, a person may have little or no facial expressions and may not shake their arms when walking. Parkinson’s disease symptoms worsen over time as the condition progresses.
Parkinson’s disease cannot be cured, but symptoms can be significantly improved with medication. In rare cases, surgery may be needed to control specific areas of the brain and improve symptoms.
These symptoms are associated with a lack of a brain neurotransmitter called dopamine. There is no complete cure for Parkinson’s disease yet, but various treatment methods such as medication, physical therapy, and surgery are used, which can help relieve symptoms and improve quality of life.
What is dopamine?
Dopamine is a chemical that occurs in the central nervous system and plays an important role in signal transmission between nerve cells. This signaling is involved in a variety of functions, including locomotion, mood regulation, learning, and reward systems. In neurological diseases such as Parkinson’s disease, a lack of dopamine or damage to nerve cells may reduce the amount of dopamine, causing problems in motor control.
Parkinson’s disease symptoms
Main symptoms:
- Tremors (considered tremor): Usually begins in one hand or leg and may later spread to both sides.
- Muscle stiffness: Muscles become stiff and tense, making movement difficult.
- Slowed movement: Movement becomes slower and simple movements become difficult.
- Postural instability: Difficulty maintaining balance may result in a fall.
Other symptoms:
- Fatigue: You may feel tired and have less energy for daily activities.
- Lack of energy: You may feel lethargic or listless.
- Changes in facial expression: You may smile or your facial expressions may not match your emotions.
- Difficulty writing: Handwriting may become small and difficult to read.
- Voice changes: Your voice may become quieter or monotone.
- Numbness of the fingers: Movement of the fingers may become difficult or numb.
In addition, various symptoms such as insomnia, depression, anxiety, and cognitive decline may appear in Parkinson’s disease patients.
Symptoms by progression stage
Symptoms of Parkinson’s disease may vary as it progresses. It is usually divided into early, middle and late stages.
- Initial symptoms : In the beginning, a slight tremor on one side (considered tremor), muscle stiffness, and slowed movement may appear. Additionally, small movements in daily life may become increasingly difficult.
- Mid-term symptoms : As you enter the middle stage, symptoms may gradually worsen. Tremors become worse and may spread to both sides. Walking may become difficult, and maintaining balance and posture may become difficult.
- Terminal symptoms : When the disease reaches the terminal stage, there is a significant decline in function in daily life. Slowness of movement becomes more severe, and stuttering may also occur. Additionally, there will be an increasing number of situations where help is needed in daily life.
Parkinson’s disease complications
- Difficulty thinking : You may experience cognitive problems such as dementia or thinking disorders. These usually occur in the later stages of Parkinson’s disease. These cognitive problems are usually not helped by medications.
- Depression and emotional changes: Sometimes you may experience depression at a very early stage. Getting treatment for depression can make it easier to deal with other problems with Parkinson’s disease. You may also experience other emotional changes, such as fear, anxiety, or loss of motivation.
- Swallowing problems: As the condition progresses, you may have difficulty swallowing. Slow swallowing can cause saliva to accumulate in the mouth and cause drooling.
- Chewing and eating problems: Late-stage Parkinson’s disease can affect the mouth muscles, making chewing difficult. This can lead to asphyxiation and malnutrition.
- 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.
- Bladder problems: Parkinson’s disease can cause bladder problems, including inability to control urination or difficulty urinating.
- Constipation: Many people with Parkinson’s disease develop constipation, primarily due to a slow digestive tract.
Parkinson’s disease treatment
Treatment methods for Parkinson’s disease may vary depending on each patient’s symptoms and circumstances, and include medication, surgery, physical therapy, speech therapy, psychological therapy, and daily management.
medication:
- Levodopa and Carbidopa: Used to compensate for dopamine deficiency and help relieve major symptoms.
- MAO-B inhibitors: Can help increase the amount of dopamine by inhibiting dopamine breakdown.
- Dopamine receptor agonists: Stimulate dopamine receptors to relieve symptoms.
- Anticholinergics: May be used to relieve muscle stiffness and tremors.
surgery:
- Corrective surgery: This is a method of implanting electrodes deep in the brain to provide electrical stimulation to control nerve cells.
- Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS): A method of relieving symptoms by inserting electrodes into the brain and providing electrical stimulation to specific areas.
Physiotherapy:
- Relieves slowness of movement and muscle stiffness by strengthening muscles and improving flexibility.
- Quality of life can be improved through improvement of daily living movements and use of assistive devices.
Speech Therapy:
- Improve voice changes by strengthening your voice and improving your pronunciation.
- Helps you practice and use aids to improve your handwriting.
Psychotherapy:
- We provide psychotherapy to manage emotional issues such as depression, anxiety, and stress.
Daily care:
- It is important to balance your nutrition and stay physically active.
- Maximize treatment effectiveness by taking and managing medications thoroughly.
Parkinson’s healing experience
This is a news article about a person suffering from Parkinson’s disease who improved by walking barefoot. After hearing from an acquaintance that “walking barefoot on the ground improves health,” he studied the principles and started walking barefoot. I’m lying down now There is no big problem in getting up and walking.
Parkinson’s disease lifespan
The progression and longevity of Parkinson’s disease is influenced by many different factors. In most cases, people with Parkinson’s disease experience gradual worsening of symptoms over the course of the disease, but the rate and severity of progression may vary from person to person. Typically, people can live with it for decades after symptoms first appear.
With recent advances in medicine and treatment, there are a variety of approaches to managing symptoms and improving quality of life, and with appropriate medical care and treatment, Parkinson’s disease patients can live long, sustainable lives.
It is important for people with Parkinson’s disease and their families to work with their healthcare professionals to develop an appropriate treatment plan and manage their symptoms. We also support patients with difficulties in their daily lives, and receiving positive thoughts and support from people around them will be helpful to the patient’s health and well-being. Parkinson’s disease is a challenging disease, but we must not forget that with proper care and support, you can live a rich life.