Approach to Parkinson's disease

Patients suffering from Parkinson's disease do not all have the same symptoms and they will not appear in the same order every person. Each patient with Parkinson's disease is different; . Symptoms of Parkinson's disease can change from day to day, and even from one hour to the next, as well as over longer periods of time. The most common symptoms of Parkinson's disease are: • Tremor that usually starts at the level of a hand or arm. Tremor is usually present when the affected part of the body is at rest, or in conditions of agitation, anger. Tremor may be reduced or even disappear when the affected part of the body is used.

Although it is the symptom associated by most people with Parkinson's disease, yet not everyone who suffers from this disease shows tremor. • Rigidity. Rigid muscles can make it harder to carry out daily tasks and can be very painful. Patients may have problems when they twist when they get up from their stools, or when they make fine moves with their fingers (when they close the buttons or use the keys of a computer without controlling the eye movements). Some people notice that the position of the body becomes bent or that the appearance of their face becomes immobile, making them difficult to adopt facial expressions.

• Postural disturbances affect balance and walking - may be responsible, in evolution, for falls. • Lost movement. It is possible for the patient to notice that it is more difficult to move, and the movement lasts longer. While walking, the balance of the arms is reduced, especially in the first affected arm, and the heel does not move slightly on the ground and the steps become smaller. The \.

If it hangs, it may be that it is difficult to start the motion or that it can not move again for a certain amount of time. It is also possible to notice that the symptoms are more severe when the blood levels of the antiparkinsonian drugs they receive are reduced and when they do not have a complete effect. After taking the next dose of antiparkinsonian drugs, the symptoms may become less noticeable. Parkinson's disease has long been considered a condition characterized mainly by motor disorders. However, non-motor symptoms (which are not directly related to motion) are very common.

• Depression is commonly associated with Parkinson's disease. In this context, sadness, appetite disturbances and apathy occur. Depression can be difficult to identify because many of its symptoms overlap with the symptoms of Parkinson's disease. • Anxiety is common. People with Parkinson's disease may be anxious or suffering.

The mood disorders may be persistent throughout the day or may be related to the level of blood concentration of antiparkinsonian medication (ie a state of well-being or many negative thoughts). • Apathy. Some patients may feel apathetic and lack the incentive to do various actions. The undesirable consequence is that some patients are happy to stay home and do almost nothing without feeling about this condition. • Bladder problems.

These problems will not be present in all people with Parkinson's disease, but some patients may suffer from urination during the night or difficulty urinating. • Constipation. It is a very common problem in Parkinson's disease, often preceding with many years the onset of motor disease. • Excessive salivation and difficulty in swallowing. If a person suffers from Parkinson's disease for many years, it is possible to experience difficulty in swallowing.

These difficulties can be accompanied by. This is a very disturbing symptom, causing a lot of discomfort and annoyance to the suffering person. Moreover, in the context of these problems, it is important to maintain oral and dental health. • Fatigue is defined as excessive and unjustified, lack of energy, exhaustion, which can influence the actions taken or. • Pain is quite common in the context of Parkinson's disease, being determined by several mechanisms, including the depletion of the effect of antiparkinsonian medication and, respectively, showing improvement after the required dose of medication.

• Skin changes and excessive sweating. It is possible that, due to Parkinson's disease, the skin glands produce too much of a substance called sebum; . , especially nocturnal, can be caused by the disease or some of the antiparkinsonian drugs. • Sleep disturbances. Parkinson's disease can be associated with multiple sleep disorders, from insomnia, to sleep disorders caused by bed movement difficulties, to more complex sleep disorders, consisting of nocturnal motor agitation, sudden involuntary movements, .

Of course, all of these sleep disorders will be associated with a feeling of diurnal fatigue. • Thought and memory disorders may be disease-induced, may be side effects of antiparkinsonian medication, or may be associated with other concomitant medical conditions. These are manifested by difficulty in recalling things, weighting on focusing on longer periods or difficulties, then trying to do more things at the same time. Some people with Parkinson's disease can develop in more advanced stages of the disease. This phenomenon is more common in patients who are diagnosed with Parkinson's disease at advanced ages.

• Also, some people with Parkinson's disease can experience hallucinations and illusions as a direct consequence of the disease or as side effects of antiparkinsonian drugs. Symptomology may be complex, Parkinson's being indeed \. Therefore, the patient should discuss with his / her family physician, specialist physician or nurse specializing in Parkinson's disease (if one), if he / she worries about any of these issues. The cause of Parkinson's disease is not known, but it is believed that there are cumulative genetic and environmental factors that cause the death of dopamine-producing nerve cells. It is also known that several nerve structures are involved in the production of this disease.

If in many diseases and modern means of investigation are needed to diagnose, in the context of Parkinson's disease diagnosis is eminently clinical. Imaging and laboratory investigations do not bring disease-specific elements and are intended to exclude other conditions that may have similar images. Since the cause (etiology) of Parkinson's disease is not known, the bad news is that there is no cure for the disease. However, the good news is that there are treatments that can help control symptoms and increase quality of life. These therapies include various drugs, neurosurgical interventions such as deep intracerebral stimulation (DBS), speech and language disorders and occupational therapy.

Drug treatment Although there is no curative treatment for Parkinson's disease, the good part is that this disease has the widest therapeutic range of all the diseases of movement. Optimal treatment will be determined following discussion with the neurologist and clinical consultation. This will result in the most appropriate drug options for each individual patient. It is possible to administer a single drug or a combination of several drug classes. Every person with is different; .

Thus, the type and number of medications, as well as their hours of administration, may be different from those of other people with the same disease. Antiparkinsonian drugs can work well, but unfortunately they do not cure the disease. Instead, they control the symptoms and improve the quality of life. Since Parkinson's disease is a progressive disorder and the treatments are symptomatic, the disease is evolutionary, requiring periodic adjustment of the treatment given. Side Effects Antiparkinsonian treatment often works well after a diagnosis (\.

For some people, adverse effects have a major impact on life and require management as careful as the symptoms of the disease. So, you should talk to your family doctor and your specialist neurologist, because changing the treatment plan can be very helpful. -Wake up: flex the knees on the mattress; . Now you are back on the right; . Stand on the edge of the bed, make some complete breaths and only then lift up.

-Face for the facial muscles: lower lip over upper lip, then lower lip between teeth; . - Do not forget about daily hygiene. If necessary, replace the tub with a shower cabin. - Because it is a common problem for people with Parkinson's disease, it is important to increase the intake of liquids and the consumption of foods rich in (seeds, whole grains, vegetables and fruits). Make as much movement as the colon will \.

-It is desirable to have a daily chair. Imitate the \. -What you cook, do your work through the kitchen, not forgetting the food on the fire. - You will not hurry when you eat. Make your shopping list if you encounter memory problems.