Parkinson's Disease Explained!
Most people do not think of Parkinson's disease until it affects someone in the family or one of their friends. The disease itself is a slowly progressive disorder that affects the central nervous system and can severely hamper a person's quality of life because of the accompanying symptoms it presents. The exact cause of Parkinson's disease is not currently known. However, much research is being done in order to find ways to either control or cure the disease.
Much scientific thought has gone into what actually causes a person to develop Parkinson's disease. At present, research seems to indicate that the main factors are genetics, environmental factors, viral problems, and toxins.
Symptoms
Parkinson's disease affects the central nervous system of the patient. This shows itself as progressive problems in muscle control and balance. Other symptoms that are usually present include: tremors, a slow movements, rigidity, loss of reflexes, postural problems, and speech problems. There are yet more symptoms that some patients may have. These include: depression, insomnia, dizziness, swallowing difficulties and sexual dysfunction.
Parkinson's disease will vary from person to person. When considering treatment for the person, physicians need to consider the person as an individual and develop a unique treatment plan for that person. A "blanket" approach to medical treatment is not an option when considering Parkinson's disease options.
Medication
Medication for Parkinson's disease patients is to ensure the symptoms are controlled as best as possible so the person can enjoy a reasonable quality of life. Some medications can be used to slow down the onset of the symptoms. Determining the exact medications and the dosages for each can be quite difficult, and sometimes requires a trial and error approach before a patient's optimal treatment plan is recognised. Once this happens, however, therapies can minimise symptoms and assist in maximising the functions of the person in his daily life habits.
Other diseases can mimic Parkinson's disease and this is one of the main reasons it is often not diagnosed properly in the early stages. Often it is a question of eliminating other possible causes of the symptoms before the definitive diagnosis of Parkinson's disease can be made.
A combination of Levadopa and Carbidopa is the usual treatment for Parkinson's disease in most cases. These two drugs are very effective in treating the chemical imbalances within the brain which cause Parkinson's disease. These two drugs often tend to work very well in the initial stages of the disease, but, eventually, they lose their effectiveness. For a certain amount of time, adjustment to the dosage can alleviate this problem, but at some point in time other treatments need to be considered.
Useful Parkinson's disease Organizations:
When you can't find the information you are looking for on our site, we recommend you contact one of the following organizations. Here is a list of Parkinson's disease Organizations.
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