Parkinson's disease
Parkinson's disease. What is it? I am not a physician or any other medical professional. Only your physician is qualified to diagnose and recommend any treatment options for this condition. I am offering this brief synopsis of what Parkinson's disease is, for informational purposes only, and because it is one of the conditions treated with the prescription drug Mirapex® The information I have about this disease has been compiled from medical dictionaries, manuals, and internet resources. If you believe that you or a loved one or other significant person in your life may have this condition I urge you to consult with your physician. There is also an excellent online forum for caregivers, patients, loved ones, and others with an interest in Parkinson's disease
Parkinson's disease is a progressive disorder of the nervous system characterized by involuntary tremor when the muscles are at rest. The cause of the disorder is a reduction of dopamine and also a reduction in the number of nerve cells in the part of the basal ganglia called the substantia nigra. The cause of the degeneration of these nerve cells in the basal ganglia is unknown. However genetics do appear to play a major role, as the condition does seem to run in families.
Some of the early symptoms of Parkinson's disease usually begins subtly. It generally begins with a tremor of one of the hands and then progress's to the other hand, and then to the arms and legs. In about one third of all Parkinson's cases the tremor is not the first symptom, and in some people a tremor never develops. Other early symptoms of Parkinson's may be a reduction in the sense of smell, difficulty walking, or a lack of facial expressions and possibly even a decrease in the normal amount of blinking.
As the condition progresses the person may have difficulty walking, especially during the first few steps, once started however they sometimes shuffle. Some persons will discontinue walking altogether while others may unintentially speed up their steps into a stumbling run in an attempt to avoid falling. Eventually the face may even take on a blank stare as the face muscles become more rigid, many people with Parkinson's may drool or choke because swallowing can also become more difficult. Speech may also be affected, as most people with Parkinson's disease talk softly because of the difficulty they may have with vocal articulation. In about half of the patients with Parkinson's disease the intellect remains normal, while the other half may develop dementia.
There are medications availiable that can help ease some of the symptoms of this condition. But again, only your doctor can prescribe or recommend any treatment options. However like the title of this website says, there are some medications that can have some devastating side effects. I would urge you to consult with your physician about these potential side effects before beginning any treatment procedures.
If you are aware of any errors or omissions in the information I have provided on this subject I would appreciate your contacting me. Thank you for taking the time visiting this site.
