What is Parkinson's disease? All You Need to Know

Parkinson’s disorder is the neurodegenerative disease that influences the part of the brain that makes dopamine. Usually, there is a slow development of symptoms. While the disorder is not lethal, but, it may result in severe difficulties if you do not include the essential precautions. 

The part of the brain producing dopamine is called substantia nigra, and its damage results in a diversity of side effects. They involve balance and walking issues and tremors linked with the disorder. The reason for the disease is not known. However, there are multiple options for treatment accessible that assist in reducing the signs and offer you excellent quality of life. 

PARKINSON’S DISEASE: EARLY WARNING SIGNS

There are multiple warning signs of Parkinson’s disorder but are not challenging on the own but must be taken on a serious note if more than one exists at a time.  The first sign is just a tremor in the chin or the hands. After a hectic workout or a stressful event, shaking is considered normal. However, it is alarming if it occurs while you are calming down or resting. 

Micrographia is another warning symptom. It is when the handwriting appears more cramped and smaller as compared to the normal. The writing is similar to different aspects of our health and body alters as the age progresses, but there is an apparent dramatic shift.  

The other early warning symptoms involve issues walking or moving routinely disturbed sleep, and loss of smell. With the increase in age, some stiffness is standard; however, if you consider that your moving abilities have got awkward and stiff in a short time, it can be the warning symptom of the disease. Other symptoms include a clear hunch or stoop, dizziness, a low or soft voice, and recurrent constipation. 

DIAGNOSIS OF PARKINSON’S DISEASE

If you are showing one or more early warning signs of this disease, you must talk to your physician immediately. 

There is no one particular test that can make sure that you have Parkinson’s as it is challenging to find out when it is present in the early stage. Usually, for confirming a diagnosis, the consultant needs to notice the significant signs – rigidity, slowness of movement, and resting tremor – exist in the individual over a long period. He may ask you to do basic things in the home, such as tap the thumb and fingers together or stand while being pushed for checking the balance problems. Also, your doctor may make an educated estimation of the occurrence of Parkinson’s. 

After making the diagnosis, your physician recommends you some medicines of Parkinson’s to check how your body responds to these medications. So, if your signs are reduced, there is a confirmation of the diagnosis. He may ask you to go for a brain scan to check if you have other neurological issues. After that, your consultant may refer you to an expert in neurology who is professional in this part, renowned as a movement disorder specialist.

TREATMENT OF PARKINSON’S

After you get diagnosed, your neurologist, as well as doctor, works for creating a treatment plan that can improve your life quality and lessen your signs.  Multiple options of treatment are there, based on the severity of the symptoms. Unluckily, there is no treatment or medicines present currently that can oppose the disease effects or get rid of it completely. 

Multiple medicines are there that are utilized for treating the signs of Parkinson’s disorder. Levodopa is the most prevalent, initiated in the 1960s and works by combining into dopamine in the brain. When you take out levodopa, it results in vomiting and nausea, so you can take it with carbidopa as it increases the efficacy and gets rid of the side effects. 

The carbidopa or levodopa mix is accessible in different strengths and forms, which include slow-release and fast-acting choices. There are multiple other medications present for the individual having Parkinson in addition to these pills. It includes amantadine and anticholinergic drugs, which assist in easing the muscle contractions and tremors, and MAO-B inhibitors, they make sure the efficacy of levodopa medications.  

When taken appropriately, medicines have been shown to improve the signs of Parkinson’s disorder. If the signs react to the drugs, there is also a possibility of a surgical option. The surgical options include implantation that stimulates the movement center of the brain or offer a stable flow of carbidopa or levodopa drugs in the small intestine. The deep-brain stimulation is considered to be the significant advancement in the treatment of Parkinson’s from 1960, and it is best to help the individuals who experience dyskinesia and severe tremors as the side effect of medications. 

WHAT SHOULD YOU DO?

If you feel one or more signs of Parkinson’s disorder, it is essential to talk with your physician immediately. They may not diagnose the disease right away. However, they can start noticing changes in your body. If you are a young individual less than 50 years of age, it is effortless to ignore the little signs as unassociated, but it is essential if you take them seriously. Almost 100,000 individuals in the US have the inset of this disorder at a young age. 

Having a regular workout, an excellent treatment plan, and a proper diet, you can live an active and meaningful life along with Parkinson’s disorder.