Parkinson’s disease is a disorder that affects the central nervous system of the body. It is characterized by involuntary movements of the muscles, which can be either clumsiest or jerky. These involuntary movements are manifested as the characteristic tremor of Parkinson’s disease. This tremor is most likely to be seen in the legs and occasionally the arms of patients.
Parkinson’s symptoms depend on the level of dopamine production in the brain. Dopamine acts as the sender of signals that instruct the nerve cells to carry out an action. When there is sufficient amount of dopamine in the body, the Parkinson’s symptoms can be controlled. However, when the level of dopamine is reduced, these manifestations of Parkinson’s increase uncontrollably. Therefore, it is very important to know the difference between Parkinson’s symptoms and other types of non-motor symptoms.
Parkinson’s symptoms can be divided into three main categories namely clumsiness, rigidity, and rigidity without coordination. Clumsiness is often caused by the decrease of certain brain fibers responsible for muscle movements. Rigid rigidity is due to damage to certain brain cells that mainly result in a decreased transmission of nerve impulses. Levodopa therapy is a treatment of Parkinson’s type that helps control symptoms of the disease. This helps restore brain chemical levels.
In order to understand the difference between early symptoms and advanced Parkinson’s disease, you must have an understanding of Parkinson’s itself. Parkinson’s disease progresses through several phases. On the first phase, which is early Parkinson’s symptoms, people experience mild symptoms such as difficulty in walking, unable to hold onto small objects, and clumsy movement. The later two stages of Parkinson’s symptoms are more severe and include bradykinesia – loss of muscle coordination, and apraxia – poor motor coordination. In addition to these, one side of the brain is affected resulting to the patients experiencing symptoms such as rigidity and bladder problems.
The early Parkinson’s symptoms can be treated depending on the severity of the disorder. One common form of treatment is levodopa or l-dopa. This form of treatment helps lower the level of dopamine in the body, thereby helping patients to control both motor and speech functions. Another form of treatment is lipophlic acid injections that help reduce both bradykinesia and rigidity. In some cases, medications such as gabapentin or nimodipine are used to treat the disease symptoms.
As the disease advances, more symptoms may become apparent. Patients may experience a loss of muscle tone, difficulty in speaking, and difficulty moving with a walk. Some patients also exhibit signs of depression. As the disease progresses, the brain cells involved in regulating emotion, movement, and cognition deteriorate. Some of the cognitive impairments include poor short-term memory and forgetfulness, poor working memory and concentration, and poor attention span. In some cases, Parkinson’s symptoms may include parkinsonism-related rigidity.
To determine the presence of Parkinson’s disease, your doctor will do a series of tests including performing physical findings, checking for depression, performing brain scans, and doing electroencephalographs (EEGs). The doctor may also order laboratory tests and perform blood tests to determine the dopamine levels in your body. Your doctor will ask you about your medical history, and ask you to describe your symptoms. Based on your responses, your doctor will determine if you have Parkinson’s or if there is another, separate condition.
Parkinson’s symptoms can be frustrating and difficult to live with. If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with this debilitating disease, the earlier you begin treatment, the better. There are many treatments available today to help control your disease. Whether you’re experiencing general pain and rigidity, difficulty with swallowing or breathing, or specific language difficulties, there is help waiting for you.
Oren Zarif – Psychokinesis Treatment
