My home was simply becoming too much for me to handle—chores, repairs, errands. Now, by having...[More]
Parkinson's Disease:
Q: What is Parkinson's disease?
A: Parkinson's disease is a disorder of the brain. Movement and coordination in your body are controlled in part by a chemical in your brain called dopamine. In Parkinson's disease, dopamine-producing nerve cells are damaged, gradually reducing dopamine levels in the parts of the brain thought to control movement. This loss of dopamine creates problems, such as: Shaking (tremors), difficulty walking, muscle stiffness or aching, slowness of movement, and decreased facial expression.
Q: What are the symptoms and stages of Parkinson's disease?
A: The early stage symptoms are: Tremor on one side of the body when at rest, arm swing on only one side of the body while walking, slowness of movement, vivid dreams or restless sleep. The moderate stage symptoms are: tremor on both sides of the body, shuffling gate, reduced speech volume. The advanced stage symptoms are: significant changes in gait, slowness of thought, unpredictable response to medication, and assistance required for activities of daily living.
Q: What causes Parkinson's disease?
A: The actual cause of Parkinson's disease is still unknown. Many researchers believe that Parkinson's disease may be caused by a combination of factors including genetic and environmental, such as exposure to toxins.
Q: Who gets Parkinson disease?
A: As many as 1 million people in the United States have Parkinson's disease. Parkinson's disease usually develops after the age of 50; only 15% of the people under the age of 40 are diagnosed with Parkinson's it also affects slightly more men than women.
Q: How do I know if I have Parkinson's disease?
A: Not all movement difficulties are related to Parkinson's disease. If you have signs and symptoms of Parkinson's disease, or have any reason to believe that you may have Parkinson's, then take action and consult a physician.
Q: What is Parkinson's disease?
A: Parkinson's disease is a disorder of the brain. Movement and coordination in your body are controlled in part by a chemical in your brain called dopamine. In Parkinson's disease, dopamine-producing nerve cells are damaged, gradually reducing dopamine levels in the parts of the brain thought to control movement. This loss of dopamine creates problems, such as: Shaking (tremors), difficulty walking, muscle stiffness or aching, slowness of movement, and decreased facial expression.
Q: What are the symptoms and stages of Parkinson's disease?
A: The early stage symptoms are: Tremor on one side of the body when at rest, arm swing on only one side of the body while walking, slowness of movement, vivid dreams or restless sleep. The moderate stage symptoms are: tremor on both sides of the body, shuffling gate, reduced speech volume. The advanced stage symptoms are: significant changes in gait, slowness of thought, unpredictable response to medication, and assistance required for activities of daily living.
Q: What causes Parkinson's disease?
A: The actual cause of Parkinson's disease is still unknown. Many researchers believe that Parkinson's disease may be caused by a combination of factors including genetic and environmental, such as exposure to toxins.
Q: Who gets Parkinson disease?
A: As many as 1 million people in the United States have Parkinson's disease. Parkinson's disease usually develops after the age of 50; only 15% of the people under the age of 40 are diagnosed with Parkinson's it also affects slightly more men than women.
Q: How do I know if I have Parkinson's disease?
A: Not all movement difficulties are related to Parkinson's disease. If you have signs and symptoms of Parkinson's disease, or have any reason to believe that you may have Parkinson's, then take action and consult a physician.