What is Parkinson's Disease?

Posted by Healthfitline On Friday, January 4, 2013
Parkinson's Disease is a gradually progressing disease of the neuro system, characterized by a disability due to tremors and rigidity. The two common forms of Parkinson's disease is the Idopathic and the degenerative. The other type is secondary to other causes or illness. Parkinson disease occurs as a result of a decrease in the dopamine level, due to loss or damage of neurons in the basal ganglia of the brain, that is responsible for producing dopamine.
 
A decrease in dopamine levels result to  more excitatory neurotransmitter than inhibitory, eventually affecting the extrapyramidal system - a neural network of  cells that are reponsible for semi-automatic functions and co-ordinated movement.

How Do You Get Parkinsons Disease
The cause of Parkinson's disease is idopathic (unknown) but there are various risk factors that are associated with the disease.

Parkinson's Disease Risk Factors
  • Genetics predisposition
  • Viral infections
  • Head trauma
  • Use of antipsychotic medications.
  • People suffering from atherosclerosis (ischemia of the basal ganglia).
  • Environmental influence
  • Exposure to carbonmonoxide and other toxin like mercury and manganese.
 
Symptoms of Parkinson's
Symptoms of Parkinson's disease usually start appearing once 60% of neurons are damaged and dopamine level has decreased up to 80%.  They include;
  • Non intentional tremors or resting tremors - This is the earliest sign of Parkinson's disease.
  • Slowness of active movement (bradykinesia).
  • Pill rolling of the thumb against the finger.
  • Muscle rigidity with jerky movement.
  • Postural instability or imbalance -  Loss of postural reflexes causes the patient to stand with the head bent forward and walks with a propulsive gait (steps becomes faster and faster, followed by shorter steps that progress once again from walking to running and may result to a fall).
Later signs and symptoms of Parkinson's disease include;
  • Dysphagia - difficult swallowing.
  • Stooped position
  • Mask like facial expression or no facial expression due to rigidity.
  • Total lack of movement (akinesia).
  • Small hand writing - micrographia.
Other symptoms due to effect on the autonomic system are;
  • Constipation
  • Profuse sweating
  • Orthostatic hypotension
  • Reduced libido or sexual dysfunction
  • Urinary retention and incontinence
Parkinson's Psychiatric Symptoms that may result due to disease itself or medication.
  • Depression
  • Dementia
  • Sleep problems
  • Hallucinations

Parkinson's Disease Complication
Possible complications resulting from Parkinson's disease are;
  • Respiratory complications
  • Skin problems
  • Urinary tract infections.
  • Fall injuries
Other complications that are caused by medications are; dyskinesia and Orthostatic hypotension (decrease in blood pressure when moving from a sitting to a standing position).

Parkinson's Disease Diagnosis
There are no specific tests that are used to diagnose the disease and even though PET and Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT) are performed, they only help in understanding the disease and in advancing the treatment.

Diagnosis of Parkinson's disease is based on the patient's history, together with the presence of two of the four common signs and symptoms; tremor, rigidity, bradykinesia and changes in posture.
 
Parkinson's Disease Treatment 
No medical or surgical procedure is available to cure or to prevent disease progression and the treatment options given are meant to control the symptoms and to maintain individual's independence as much as possible.

The antiparkinson and anticholinergic medications like Levodapa and benztropine mesylate, usually act in two ways; To increase the dopaminergic activity or by reducing the excessive influence of excitatory neurotransmitters (neurons).  Surgical procedures includes; Deep Brain Stimulation - Use of brain implants that relieve symptoms of tremors. Researchers are also exploring the use of stem cells and human fetal cells for neural transplantation.

Other non pharmaceutical management include;
  • Range of motion exercises to reduce rigidity and contractures.
  • Techniques that help in enhancing voluntary movement. Such as; grasping a coin inside a pocket.
  • Increase in fluid and fiber to prevent constipation.
  • No use of pillow while sleeping to prevent flexion of the spine.
  • Making sure the person is able to swallow properly before feeding.
  • High protein and high caloric, soft diet should be given in small, frequent feedings.
  • Minimizing patient risks of fall.  
Labels: Diseases and Conditions, Health, home, Parkinson Disease

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