Shamsa Hussein was diagnosed with Parkinson's at 28-years-old
Photo: ITV News Central
A mother-of-two from Birmingham who was diagnosed with Parkinson's at the age of 28, is raising awareness of the disease among young people.
Shamsa Hussein says she wants to challenge public perceptions to mark World Parkinson's day.
Parkinson's UK say that almost 80% of us don't know about the symptoms and more than half of us believe its a disease that only affects older people.
It's estimated that Parkinson's affects 1 in 350 people and there are currently 145,000 people with the condition in the UK. Though only 5% of those with the disease are under the age of 40.
What is Parkinson's?
Parkinson's is a progressive neurological condition. This means that it causes problems in the brain and gets worse over time.
The disease is caused by a loss of nerve cells in part of the brain, which leads to problems with movement.
What are the symptoms?
The symptoms of Parkinson's disease usually develop gradually and are mild at first and include:
- Tremors – shaking, which usually begins in the hand or arm and is more likely to occur when the limb is relaxed and resting.
- Slowness of movement – physical movements are much slower than normal, which can make everyday tasks difficult and can result in a distinctive slow, shuffling walk with very small steps.
- Muscle stiffness – stiffness and tension in the muscles, which can make it difficult to move around and make facial expressions, and can result in painful muscle cramps.
- Depression and anxiety
Other symptoms include having balance problems, losing your sense of smell and have problems going to the toilet. For more information visit the NHS website.
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/parkinsons-disease/symptoms/
- Watch Shamsa's story here:
http://www.itv.com/news/central/2018-04-11/birmingham-woman-diagnosed-with-parkinsons-at-28-calls-for-more-support-shamsa-hussein/
No comments:
Post a Comment