What You Need to Know About Parkinson’s Disease

By Anika Logan

Parkinson’s disease, sometimes referred to as PD, is a degenerative disorder that affects the central nervous system and most often affects a person’s ability to speak as well as affecting their motor skills. Parkinson’s disease belongs to a group or classification of conditions that are called movement disorders or motor system disorders and they are the consequence of a loss of cells that produce the chemical dopamine in the brain. The primary symptoms of this disease include tremors or trembling in the face, jaw, arms, hands or legs; Muscle rigidity or stiffness in the limbs and trunk of the body; bradykinesia (which is a slowness of physical movement); postural instability or problems with coordination and/or impairment when it comes to balance. As the disease advances the patient of PD can develop problems walking, talking and finishing very simple daily tasks. In the most severe cases, a patient will develop akinesia, which is a complete loss of physical movement.

Who Does it Affect?

Parkinson’s disease most commonly affects individuals who are 50 to 60 years of age and up but it has been known to affect younger individuals as well. An example of this is actor Michael J. Fox who developed Parkinson’s disease at the age of 30. This disease is more commonly found in males than females. It is estimated that approximately ten percent of people develop the disease who are under the age of 40 years. In its very earliest stages the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease are very subtle and show themselves very gradually over time. Some individuals see the progression of Parkinson’s disease quickly while others find that it develop much slower.  As the disease progresses from one stage to another many patients of it find that the shaking and tremors associated with it get worse to the point where they cannot accomplish very basis tasks at work or at home such as dusting, vacuuming, changing beds, raking leaves, etc.

Many people with Parkinson’s disease develop depression and other emotional changes that are a direct result of their inability to do certain tasks and activities that they could do before the disease struck. Some patients of PD develop constipation or urinary problems while problems chewing, swallowing and speaking are also very common symptoms. Some patients often develop interruptions in their Sleep patterns as well as various problems with their skin.  

Is There a Cure for Parkinson’s Disease?

At the present time there is no cure for Parkinson’s disease. As well there are presently no laboratory tests or blood tests that are beneficial in diagnosing Parkinson’s disease that is sporadic. The diagnosis for PD then is determined by way of past medical history as well as a neurological exam. For this reason PD is not an easy disease to diagnose with any degree of accuracy.

Exercise, and in particular intensive exercise helps to improve the early symptoms of PD as they encourage mobility and the maintenance of balance. Some examples of exercises to try are walking, jogging, swimming, and dancing. Many individuals who suffer from PD have low levels of vitamin D are at a greater risk of developing osteoporosis and therefore would be well advised to lift weights as well. Talk to your doctor about an exercise program that is supported to your health condition.

Nutritional Supplements

Before considering nutritional supplements speak with your doctor as some types of vitamins and minerals interact negatively with conventional medicines for PD. Some suggestions are coenzyme Q10, vitamin C, vitamin E, L-tyrosine, L-methionine, omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin B3, gluthione, vitamin D, vitamin B6 (pyridoxine), fava beans, etc.

Herbs for PD

Herbs are for the most part considered a safe method for both strengthening and toning the body from the inside out. Always work with your doctor to decide which herbs are beneficial for you and which ones will not counteract with other medications. Herbal remedies can be taken in one of three ways- such as dried extracts (such as capsules, powders or teas), tinctures (which are alcohol extracts) and glycerites (which are extracts made from glycerine). Unless your doctor tells you otherwise, make herbal teas by using one teaspoon of the herb for a cup of hot water. Cover the Tea and steep it for a period of five to ten minutes when you are using flowers or leaves and when using roots of plants do so for a period of approximately 10 to 20 minutes. Drink at least two to four cups of this Tea each and every day for optimum benefit.

Ginkgo biloba or ginkgo is a type of antioxidant that helps to facilitate the healthy flow of blood from the heart to the brain and it also encourages the delivery of dopamine to the brain. Supplement your diet with Ginkgo biloba twice a day with 80 milligrams. Brahmi (or bacopa monniera) is a type of Ayurvedic herb that is commonly recommended as a supplement as it is an excellent antioxidant that is used to nourish the brain. Circulation to the brain is improved upon and this leads to better cognitive function, better neurological function as well as a better overall mood.

Other Alternative Therapies

Movement therapies such as the Alexander Technique, music therapy and the Feldenkrais Method have been utilized to improve balance and motor skills in Parkinson’s patients while massage has been used in order to decrease the incidence of Muscle spasms and increase the level of blood Circulation.

Traditional Chinese medicine in the form of Acupuncture has been shown to have some benefit to PD patients, specifically Acupuncture done on the scalp and Acupuncture by way of electrical stimulation. Traditional Chinese medicine attributes the cause of diseases to an internal imbalance in the body. Mind- body therapies such as Yoga and Tai chi are recommended for Parkinson’s patients in order to help them walk better as well as to maintain flexibility and as large a range of motion as possible.

For more information on Parkinson’s disease visit these websites:

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/parkinsonsdisease.html

http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/parkinsons_disease/parkinsons_disease.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parkinson’s_disease

http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/parkinsons-disease-000123.htm