Parkinson’s disease, also called Parkinson’s neuroma, is a disorder of the central nervous system and results in involuntary movements such as tics, rigidity, slowing of movement, speech problems and loss of muscle control. The movement disorder results from the degeneration of dopamine-producing nerve cells in the brain that result in the disorder. The disease is diagnosed based on the signs and symptoms that are manifested for more than six months. Patients can be categorized into three groups namely; early, mid and advanced Parkinson’s disease.
The most common symptoms of Parkinson’s disease are the tremor, which occurs in more women than men and is characterized by a slow, steady movement of the arm or leg. The second most common symptom of Parkinson’s disease is rigidity, which involves a difficulty in holding firm and constant position. Limb hypotonia is a decrease in muscle tone, affecting mainly the face, neck, lower back and hips. In some cases, the patient can lose bladder or bowel control. While some patients lose body weight due to decreased appetite. In severe cases, patients face problems maintaining balance and coordination.
The early symptoms of Parkinson’s disease usually occur in the early phase of the disease. These are usually characterised by the most obvious signs such as bradykinesia – which is the loss of muscular coordination and gait; bradykinesia (which are the loss of coordination and strength in one side of the body only), and loss of speech. The early symptoms of Parkinson’s disease can be compared with those of arthritis, which is another motor disorder. With the exception of the bradykinesia, the other early symptoms of Parkinson’s disease do not involve any movement of body parts. However, since early Parkinson’s symptoms often precede weakness, loss of balance and coordination, it is important to confirm the presence of the disease before undertaking specific treatments.
The third stage of Parkinson’s disease, which is later stages, presents itself with more obvious symptoms such as restlessness, rigidity, severe headaches, sweating and even weight loss. In later stages, the patient may also find it difficult to swallow liquids and may appear to be infrequent or absent. There is also a possibility of a tremor, which is the sudden, involuntary shaking or trembling of arms and legs for no apparent reason. In later stages of Parkinson’s disease, the patient’s speech can also deteriorate, with a reduction in vocal tone and speech length.
The body’s normal Parkinsonian signal, which is primarily alpha (the dominant oscillatory frequency in Parkinson’s patients), is interrupted in the later stages of Parkinson’s disease. This lack of the normal Parkinsonian activity leads to the creation of a problem called Parkinsonism, which can be misdiagnosed as stroke. There are two types of abnormality in the brain that can be attributed to the disease: Loss of a Sensory Memory and Dysphagia (lack of food intake). Loss of memory is evident when patients have difficulty starting or following a name, which is later followed by a series of words or an object. Dysphagia on the other hand is a condition where there is a failure to take in enough food leading to an unbalanced diet.
As the Parkinson’s disease progresses, the loss of muscle control is one of the worse symptoms. Patients lose grip of objects and movements become stiff and painful. This stiffness and lack of coordination affect the motor activities of the individual, which further exacerbates his or her inability to function. The stiff muscles and lack of coordination damage the brain cells and can lead to Parkinson’s dementia, which is a progressive disease, resulting from the death of affected brain cells. Dementia can progress until the patient becomes blind, deaf and paralysed.
Parkinson’s symptoms are not restricted to motor functions alone. The cognitive impairment that accompanies Parkinson’s symptoms also causes problems in social interaction and can result to severe emotional and psychological distress. Patients may also encounter hearing and speaking disabilities. The stiffness and rigidity that characterise Parkinson’s symptoms can lead to serious falls and fractures and therefore, the need for additional healthcare. It can be difficult for patients to perceive changes in their body especially when they begin to experience involuntary movements like twitching, which may be accompanied by a raised temperature or other unusual sensations, making it difficult for them to tell the difference between actual movement and tremor, which are involuntary.
Coping with Parkinson’s disease can be challenging as the disease progresses. Patients may experience worsening symptoms and should seek medical advice as early as possible. Early Parkinson’s symptoms may be mild or it may take more time before the disease manifests. For this reason, it is best to monitor the disease for early signs and seek medical care in order to minimize the damage done to the body. The earlier the disease is detected, the easier and less painful it will be to treat it.
Oren Zarif – Psychokinesis Treatment
