Parkinson’s disease is a neuro-degenerative disorder affecting the central nervous system. It causes involuntary movements of the body, including but not limited to, muscle twitching, rigidity, speech problems, and difficulty swallowing. This disease strikes men more than women, with about a third of sufferers being women. Parkinson’s symptoms generally develop in the later years of life, although they can occur earlier in some cases.
Parkinson’s disease can be recognized by a difference in the way the patient behaves, both when he or she is aware of their condition and when they are not. The most common early symptoms include rigidity of the limbs, poor coordination of movement, and a loss of balance. Other early symptoms may include urinary incontinence, apathy, depression, irritability, lack of concentration, mood swings, and emotional outbursts. With time these early symptoms can progress into more severe problems.
Parkinson’s symptoms can also be divided into motor symptoms or motor dysfunctions. Motor symptoms are those that involve movement, such as falling down, walking, and muscle twitching. A majority of Parkinson’s sufferers will experience some degree of rigidity, with the severity of this symptom often varying between sufferers.
Loss of balance and coordination are the second type of symptoms. These symptoms commonly occur in later stages of the disease and are not solely related to the nervous system. Parkinson’s patients will often start to lose the ability to walk after reaching a certain age. In addition, they will begin to lose the ability to speak and to follow simple verbal instructions, and may even start to drool or blush.
Cognitive symptoms are those that relate to the thinking and functioning of the brain. The symptoms of Parkinson’s disease begin to become apparent in the later stages, when the disease has already reached a certain point where control over the brain is no longer possible. The loss of brain function in Parkinson’s sufferers can affect several areas of the brain. The frontal lobes and the basal forebrain, which are involved in controlling emotions and behavior, are two areas of the brain that often lose function in Parkinson’s disease. The stria vascularis, or deep fascia, which provides blood and nutrients to the nerves in the brain, also narrows, causing Parkinson’s symptoms to worsen. Finally, the nigrostriatal and tuberoinfundibular regions, which are involved in coordinating body movement and emotion, will slowly lose function as well.
Other symptoms may include rigidity and wasting of muscles, and loss of balance, coordination, and facial expression. Muscle stiffness is often first noticeable during early Parkinson’s disease. Since the symptoms may also be felt in the arms, the hands, and legs, many people mistake these early symptoms for the normal effects of aging. This is why it is important to note that rigidity and wasting of muscles can be a sign of Parkinson’s disease as well. Muscle rigidity often results from an accumulation of lactic acid in the muscles of the arms and shoulders; this can be remedied by frequent exercise.
Another common symptom of Parkinson’s disease is the lack of balance. Although it is not always possible to assess Parkinson’s disease with a physician, patients with early warning signs of Parkinson’s should be screened for poor balance on the floor by using a specialist balance board. Poor balance can result in falls, which can be very painful and dangerous. A lack of balance can also be caused by a disorder of the nervous system, such as seizures or spinal cord damage. A thorough medical history should be obtained to determine whether Parkinson’s disease is a possibility.
A consistent exercise program will help ease Parkinson’s symptoms and prolong the disease’s course. In general, patients with Parkinson’s disease are advised to take part in cognitive-behavioral therapy, which aims to control and learn how to cope with Parkinson’s. This therapy is also important in the prevention of depression, which can occur in people who have Parkinson’s. Regular exercise may help ease depression. However, in some cases, especially when other medications are required, Parkinson’s may require the use of antidepressants. For these cases, doctors will try to determine the side effects of the medicines before prescribing them.
Oren Zarif – Psychokinesis Treatment
