Management of Parkinson's Disease

  • Parkinson Disease
    Parkinson’s disease is a progressive neurological disorder caused by malfunction and death of nerve cells (neurons) in the brain. Because of the death of nerve cells, people with Parkinson’s don’t have enough of the chemical Dopamine. This causes their movements to slow down. Symptoms get worse over time. An estimated 7 to 10 million people worldwide are living with Parkinson’s Disease. These numbers are projected to escalate sharply as more people live longer.   
Submitted by PatientsEngage on 27 October 2015

Living with Parkinson’s disease

Everyday activities can be a challenge. You can still do things but you may have to tackle it in a different way. Here are some ideas:

  • Plan your daily activities ahead of time
  • Do not do many things in one day
  • Space your work throughout the day
  • Simplify your tasks
  • Plan periods of rest everyday
  • If you become tired during an activity, stop and rest
  • Avoid extreme physical activities
  • Do not plan activities immediately after a meal. Rest after a meal
  • Get dressed sitting in a chair with arm rest for balance
  • Roll from side to side to pull your pants over the hip either sitting in a chair or lying down in bed
  • Wear loose fitting clothes
  • Wear wrap rounds instead of pull over clothes
  • Wear dresses with large buttons, zippers, Velcro closures and elastic waistbands
  • Wear slip-on shoes instead of shoes with lace
  • Get help from your caregivers, don’t try to do all work by yourself

Is there any special diet

There is no special diet to be followed in Parkinson’s. A balanced diet, eating regularly without skipping meals and maintaining a healthy weight will help. As food interferes with absorption of Levodopa (Medical therapy for Parkinson’s), it must be taken half an hour prior or one hour after meals.

At advanced stages, if the patient has problems swallowing, he should be given mashed food to avoid choking.

Know your support team: Who can help you stay healthy

  • A referral to a neurologist, a doctor who specialises in the brain
  • Supportive therapy from an occupational therapist, physical therapist or speech therapist
  • Interaction with a medical social worker to talk about how Parkinson's will affect your life
Community
Parkinsons Disease and Movement Disorder PDMDS
Condition
Parkinson Disease
Changed
Tue, 10/27/2015 - 19:48

Stories

  • Causes of Parkinson's Disease and Risks
    Who is at risk of developing Parkinson’s disease? In spite of much research, the cause of Parkinson’s is still unknown. Risk factors include the following: Most common in old age, above 60 years More common in men More common when there’s a family history of the disease People exposed over long periods to certain chemicals and pesticides used to kill weeds and fungus People with prolonged exposure to manganese, such as in steel industries
  • Parkinson's Disease Symptoms and Signs
    Symptoms vary from person to person. Four main movement related symptoms are: Tremors: Shaking or back and forth movements of hands and legs. Can affect jaws and head in severe condition. Occurs only during rest. Postural Instability: Difficulty balancing in sitting or standing position. Increased risk of falling. Bradykinesia: Slowness of movement, speech difficulty, slowness and difficulty in doing simple tasks like buttoning shirt, brushing teeth. Muscular Rigidity: Stiffness of muscles in…
  • Parkinson's Disease - The Shaking Palsy
    Dopamine is a Brain Chemical that helps to control muscle movement. In Parkinson's Disease the brain cells that make dopamine slowly die. The resultant lack of dopamine in body leads to physical symptoms such as slowness of movement, unusual stiffness in body, tremors and loss of balance. Depression, anxiety, constipation, speech-swallowing problems are some of the many other affections of Parkinson's Disease.          
  • Rigorous exercise may slow Parkinson’s Disease Progression
    Dr. Pettarusp Wadia, Consultant Neurologist and Movement Disorder Specialist, Jaslok Hospital and Research Centre, Mumbai, speaks to Dr Shital Raval about the latest treatments to manage Parkinson’s Disease.  Is Parkinson's a genetic condition? In about 5% of the adult population and 25% of the young-onset Parkinson's disease population, a single gene can be identified. However research is on to identify if certain genes make a person more susceptible to develop…
  • Challenges of Parkinson’s Disease – for patient and caregiver
    Mrs Balasubramaniam has been looking after her husband, 83, who has Parkinson’s Disease, for more than a decade. She shares symptoms, treatments and caregiving tips.   When was your husband diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease? My husband was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease about 10 to 12 years back, but he probably had symptoms much before that were not very noticeable, such as mild abnormality of gait or sticking out his tongue occasionally. What were the early…
  • Parkinson's, Depression and the Switch that might turn them off
    Deep brain stimulation is becoming very precise. This technique allows surgeons to place electrodes in almost any area of the brain, and turn them up or down — like a radio dial or thermostat — to correct dysfunction. Andres Lozano offers a dramatic look at emerging techniques, in which a woman with Parkinson's instantly stops shaking and brain areas eroded by Alzheimer's are brought back to life. The multi-disciplinary approach of medicine and engineering has resulted in greater precision of…
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    What is Parkinson’s disease
    Parkinson’s disease is a progressive neurological disorder caused by malfunction and death of nerve cells (neurons) in the brain. Because of the death of nerve cells, people with Parkinson’s don’t have enough of the chemical Dopamine. This causes their movements to slow down. Symptoms get worse over time. An estimated 7 to 10 million people worldwide are living with Parkinson’s Disease. These numbers are projected to escate sharply as more people live longer.    Can Parkinson’s…
  • Patients with Parkinson's Disease often suffer from undiagnosed depression
    Depression is known to be a common symptom of Parkinson's disease, but remains untreated for many patients, according to a new study by Northwestern Medicine investigators in collaboration with the National Parkinson's Foundation (NPF). http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/releases/281162.php