Parkinson's disease is a condition in which part
of the brain becomes progressively damaged over many years.
Symptoms
The three main symptoms of Parkinson's disease
are:
- tremor (involuntary shaking of particular parts
of the body)
- slow movement
- stiff and inflexible muscles
A person with Parkinson's disease can also
experience a wide range of other physical and psychological symptoms, including
depression, constipation, problems sleeping (insomnia), loss of sense of smell
(anosmia) and memory problems.
Seeking medical advice
See your GP if you are concerned that you may
have symptoms of Parkinson's disease.
Your GP will ask about the problems you are
experiencing and may refer you to a specialist for further tests.
What causes Parkinson's disease?
Parkinson's disease is caused by a loss of nerve
cells in part of the brain called the substantia nigra. This leads to a
reduction in the amount of a chemical called dopamine in the brain.
Dopamine plays a vital role in regulating the
movement of the body and a reduction in dopamine is responsible for many of the
symptoms of Parkinson's disease.
Exactly what causes the loss of nerve cells is
unclear. Most experts think that a combination of genetic and environmental
factors is responsible.
Who is affected
It's thought that around one in 500 people are
affected by Parkinson's disease, which means there are an estimated 127,000
people in the UK with the condition.
Most people with Parkinson's start to develop
symptoms when they are over 50, although around one in 20 people with the
condition first experience symptoms when they are under 40.
Men are more likely to get Parkinson's disease
than women.
How Parkinson's disease is treated
There is currently no cure for Parkinson's
disease, although treatments are available to help reduce the main symptoms and
maintain your quality of life for as long as possible.
These include supportive treatments (such as
physiotherapy and occupational therapy), medication and, in some cases,
surgery.
You may not need any treatment during the early
stages of Parkinson's disease as symptoms are usually mild. However, you may
need regular appointments with your specialist so that your condition can be
monitored.
Outlook
As the condition progresses, the symptoms of
Parkinson's disease can get worse and it can become increasingly difficult to
carry out everyday activities without assistance.
Some people respond well to treatment and only
experience mild to moderate disability, whereas others eventually become
severely disabled.
Parkinson's disease does not directly cause
people to die, but the condition can place great strain on the body and can
make some people more vulnerable to serious and life-threatening
infections.
However, with advances in treatment, most people
with Parkinson's disease now have a normal or near-normal life expectancy.
http://health.einnews.com/article/247677188/d5UoJuE-0CLXthpb
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