At least 500,000 people are living with Parkinson’s disease in the U.S. while 50,000 new cases are diagnosed each year, according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.
Parkinson’s is a chronic condition of the nervous system that affects movement, says Dr. Nancy Diaz-Pechar, a neurologist with St. Luke’s University Health Network. Most people associate Parkinson’s with shaking or tremors, but it also causes rigidity or slowed movement and changes in posture and gait, she says.
When you have Parkinson’s, certain nerve cells in your brain gradually break down or die. Your hands may shake and you may have trouble walking because you lose the nerve cells that produce dopamine, a chemical messenger in your brain important for movement, Diaz-Pechar explains.
“Parkinson’s is most commonly seen in those over 65,” Diaz-Pechar says. “But it can occur in anyone at any age.” Actor Michael J. Fox is the best known of people with Parkinson’s, and he has had it since he was in his late 20s, she says.
Men are at a greater risk than women of developing the disease as are those with many family members with Parkinson’s, Diaz-Pechar says. Ongoing exposure to herbicides and pesticides also has been linked to a slightly increased risk of Parkinson’s.
Parkinson’s is a progressive disease but it is not necessarily life-threatening, she says. Studies show on average people with Parkinson’s live only 2½ years less than those who don’t have the disorder. “In most people, it progresses fairly slowly,” Diaz-Pechar says. “And not everyone is the same. Some may have a tremor predominant form of Parkinson’s disease. They appear to progress more slowly than others who may start with stiffness, slowness and gait difficulties.”
In addition to tremors and slowed movement, symptoms of Parkinson’s can include:
• Rigid muscles
• Posture and balance issues
• Loss of unconscious movements such as blinking or smiling
• Speech changes such as slurring or hesitating
• Difficulty writing.
No test for Parkinson’s
To make a diagnosis, your doctor will look for the cardinal symptoms — slowness of movement and at least one other of the main symptoms — and rule out other possible causes for them including the medications you may be taking, Diaz-Pechar says. There are no specific tests for Parkinson’s disease. However, some imaging tests including MRI, ultrasound and DAT scans may be helpful, she says.
As the disease progresses, you may find that you have trouble thinking clearly and have trouble with your memory. Other complications include depression and emotional changes, trouble sleeping, problems swallowing, problems controlling your bladder and constipation.
Some people with Parkinson’s also develop hallucinations, Diaz-Pechar says. “Not everyone will have hallucinations or delusions. Hallucinations could be a side effect of the medications, related to Parkinson dementia or the condition itself.”
Treatment includes medications to replace diminishing dopamine. “Some medications supplement dopamine and others stimulate your use of your own dopamine,” she says.
Some patients also might be good candidates for a type of surgery known as deep-brain stimulation, Diaz-Pechar says. During the procedure, the doctor implants electrodes into a specific part of the brain to help stimulate it. The stimulation helps controls tremors, rigidity, slowness and wearing off of medication.
Exercise also can help you increase muscle strength and maintain flexibility and balance, Dr. Diaz-Pechar says.
http://www.poconorecord.com/entertainmentlife/20180308/parkinsons-disease-more-than-tremors-slow-movement
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