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Finding out you have Parkinson's disease can be terrifying. But educating yourself about the disease, its symptoms and what can be expected as it progresses, can make the prospects of PD less frightening.
Parkinson's disease's symptoms are the result of a deficiency of dopamine. This neurotransmitter normally sends signals to the brain so that muscles move smoothly.
But in people with Parkinson's disease, 80 percent or higher of cells that should manufacture dopamine are dead, damaged or dysfunctional. The person with PD is unable to regulate muscle movement in a normal fashion as nerve cells fire in a haphazard manner.
Symptoms can start to appear without being identified as signs of Parkinson's. They may not be noticed in the beginning because they are often subtle, and emerge gradually.
The individual may assume that they are indications of being tired or the result of being too busy or of getting older. But as symptoms become more pronounced, or as speech becomes slurred or slow, the individual will suspect that something more serious is wrong.
Parkinson's is marked by tremor or shaking in the arms, face, hands, jaw and legs.
The trunk, arms and legs may be stiff or rigid. Movements are slow (bradykinesia). Balance and coordination are poor, and posture is unsteady.
Your arms may no longer swing when you walk. It may be hard to move your feet in your attempts to walk. Your shoulders and hips may be stiff or painful.
You may slouch, stoop or lean when in a standing position. Getting up from a chair may cause dizziness or fainting because your blood pressure may be low because of Parkinson's disease.
Handwriting may become smaller, or words written on a page may be crowded together.
Your sense of smell may change, and you may become less able to smell some foods.
When you're asleep, you may experience sudden uncontrolled movements, or you may fall out of bed.
A change in your voice, so that your voice is hoarse or soft can be a symptom of Parkinson's. Your face may look angry, sad or serious in what is called "masking". You may not blink as often as normal and may seem to be staring.
Parkinson's can also adversely affect mood and cognitive function. Mental abilities can eventually be affected as changes continue in the brain. It may become harder to remember things, to pay attention, or to make plans or decisions.
Lewy bodies are microscopic deposits of the abnormal protein alpha-synuclein in the brain. They can appear as Parkinson's develops.
Parkinson's disease occurs in about 2 percent of Americans over the age of 65. One million people in the United States have PD according to the National Parkinson Foundation. Parkinson's dementia occurs in 50-80 percent of people with Parkinson's disease.
See a doctor if you think you might have Parkinson's. Early intervention can give you a chance of living with fewer or less severe symptoms. Medication that replaces the missing dopamine may relieve symptoms.
Your doctor may refer you to a neurologist (brain specialist), a physical therapist, occupational therapist or speech therapist.
Sources:
Parkinson's Disease Information. Parkinsons.org. Retrieved Aug. 19, 2014.
http://www.parkinsons.org
10 Early Warning Signs of Parkinson's Disease. Parkinsons.org. Retrieved Aug. 19, 2014.
http://www.parkinson.org/parkinson-s-disease/pd-101/10-early-warning-sig...
Parkinson's Disease Dementia. Alz.org. Retrieved Aug. 19, 2014.
http://www.alz.org/dementia/parkinsons-disease-symptoms.asp
Visit Jody's website at http://www.ncubator.ca
Reviewed August 21, 2014
by Michele Blacksberg RN
Add a Comment3 Comments
My husband is 80 years and has been suffering from PD for the past 15 years. Lately he started hallucinating and I didn't know how to handle the situation. He cannot sleep and tried to find and catch the imaginary people who he thinks are real. he was taken Entacapone with Levodopa, Carbidopa, and Pramipexole and started physical therapy to strengthen muscles. nothing was really working to help his condition.I took him off the Siferol (with the doctor’s knowledge) and started him on parkinson’s herbal formula i ordered from Health Herbal Clinic, his symptoms totally declined over a 5 weeks use of the Parkinsons disease natural herbal formula.i read reviews from other previous patients who used the herbal formula, my husband is now active, he can now go about daily exercise!! his symptoms so much reduced that now I hardly notice them.Visit there website www. healthherbalclinic. weebly. com or email Info@ healthherbalclinic. net
July 27, 2017 - 1:46amThis Comment
Hello, my name is maurren hayes i really can not thank God enough for what doctor paul has done in my entire life.
July 19, 2017 - 6:02pmI was diagnosed of parkinson’s 2014 and I have tried all possible means to get cured, i even visited pulmonologist but all to no avail, until i saw a post in a health forum about a herbal doctor from Africa who prepare herbal medicine to cure all kind of diseases including
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3. CANCER
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At first i doubted if it was real but decided to give it a try, when i contacted this herbal doctor via his email and website because i was try to make sure he get my message he sent me the parkinson’s herbal medicine through delivery service, when i received this herbal medicine, he gave me the instructions onhow to use it, when i applied it as instructed i was totally cured of this deadly disease within 3 weeks of usage, if you are suffering of this diseases you can as well Contact this great herbal doctor via his email or website
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This Comment
I was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in my mid to late 40's. I had hand tremors for several years. Gradually became worse. I then noticed when I was tired the tremors were worse. I started falling for no apparent reason. I now have stiffness in my legs and need to walk with 2 canes or a walker. I am very slow getting around. I am now 52 years old. I am forgetful at times and have difficulty expressing myself. I have difficulty swallowing at times. I become tired easily, I also become quite dizzy when performing any athletic function (jogging). I was on Levodopa/Carbidopa, 100/25. nothing was really working to help my condition. Finally i started on parkinson's natural herbal formula i ordered from MED LAB TEC, i read alot of great reviews from other patients who used the parkinson's herbal treatment. My symptoms totally declined over a 4-5 weeks use of the Health herbal clinic Parkinsons disease natural herbal formula. , its effects on parkinson's is amazing, all My symptoms gradually faded away, I have been active and hope to continue! or email at ere unbelievably reversed, herbs are truly gift from God. contact this herbal clinic via their email;medlabtec(AT)mail(DOT)com) I recommend this Parkinson's herbal formula for all Parkinson's Patients. and other similar sickness HPB,ALS Hepatitis Virus etc ;never stop trying .
May 22, 2017 - 1:14pmThis Comment