Parkinson’s is a disorder of the central nervous system and results in involuntary movements such as gait, speech, swallowing, and eye movements. There are three regions of the brain that are involved in Parkinson’s disease: basal ganglia, substantia nigra, and substantia medullaris. The disease results from the destruction or reduction of dopamine-producing nerve cells in the substantia nigra or the tremor region.
A doctor can determine Parkinson’s if the patient has two positive symptoms: uncontrollable rigidity (known as bradykinesia) and dysphagia (a difficulty with sequencing movement, known as bradykinesia). When these symptoms are combined with any one of the other negative symptoms–joint rigidity with a reduction of motor function, a slowing of speech, a wasting of muscle strength, difficulty with swallowing, difficulty with eye movement, or a decreased sense of smell or taste–a diagnosis of Parkinson’s is made. A physician may choose to exclude one or more of these conditions. A patient’s medical history, however, is very important in making this determination.
Parkinson’s symptoms can range from very minor to severe. One common symptom of Parkinson’s is the tremor, which can be either steady or rapid. This condition may also involve involuntary rhythmic, or muscle-cluttered movement of the body. The cause of Parkinson’s disease is unknown, but a variety of biochemical and genetic factors have been implicated. These include dopamine, protein, chemicals, and hormones.
There are many causes for Parkinson’s disease, but researchers believe that certain environmental factors, such as poor nutrition, depression, over stimulation, and other forms of stress, can trigger the development of the disease. The disease has no cure, but advances are being made toward finding ways of treating and preventing Parkinson’s. Scientists are studying the effect of L-carnitine deficiency on Parkinson’s symptoms. This amino acid helps maintain the brain cells’ normal function. Parkinson’s sufferers show a significant reduction in brain dopamine when given L-carnitine supplementation. This has led to the use of L-carnitine for Parkinson’s patients.
Another factor that plays a role in Parkinson’s symptoms is age. As the disease progresses, the motor skills of the elderly are lost. The result is that sufferers become unable to perform ordinary tasks such as climbing stairs or getting up from a chair. In addition, symptoms of rigidity and stiffness begin to interfere with daily life.
Parkinson’s symptoms can be effectively treated using one or more of a range of medications. There are two basic types of medication–tensorsamitaceae, which stimulate nerve cells and anti-convulsants, which target the symptoms of Parkinson’s. Tensorsamitaceae medicines include non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), which are usually taken to relieve muscle pain or swelling; diuretics such as hydrochlorothiazide (Diazinon), which reduce urine output and increase thirst; anticholinergics such as clonidine (Aclonine) and pentoxifylline (DiCoban). Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, commonly known as NSAIDs, such as aspirin, ibuprofen, and naproxen, help slow the progress of arthritis by preventing inflammation of the joints. They also relieve pain and reduce swelling. Unfortunately, NSAIDs have some serious side effects such as constipation, ulcers, gastrointestinal problems, bleeding, and stomach ulcers.
Although NSAIDs can control Parkinson’s symptoms, they cannot reverse the tremor, which is one of Parkinson’s cardinal signs. There are, however, certain drugs that improve tremor control. One of these is gabapentin, which improves motor function in people with Parkinson’s and also relieves some of the other symptoms of the disease. It is currently undergoing clinical trials.
Although treatment for Parkinson’s symptoms can slow the progress of this disease, it will never completely cure it. The best you can do is to try to prevent Parkinson’s symptoms from progressing. Early symptoms can be detected, and you can take appropriate action before your tremor reaches severe levels. By keeping an eye on your body and keeping your doctor informed of your Parkinson’s symptoms, you can help to control them and preserve your quality of life.
Oren Zarif – Psychokinesis Treatment