Parkinsons Disease
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Parkinsons disease can be classified as a degenerative neurological disease. It is caused by an abnormality of the nervous system. Doctors often classify it as a chronic, progressive neurological disease. They say this because it lasts a long time and it gradually gets worse. It has no particular cause, nor is it treated effectively. This disease affects 1 in 1,000 people of the general population. There are several signs and symptoms of this disease that cause a person to be diagnosed with it. The person my experience tremors, rigidity (stiffness of the muscles), akinesia (lack of movement), and postural instability, weight loss, lack of facial expression, poor hand writing, and speech problems. Because Parkinsons disease is a progressive disorder, it would be accurate to say that each year a persons symptoms will get worse. However, it would be incorrect to say that within a year, a person would suddenly find themselves enable to control their own movements and wheel-chair bound.
There are neurons in the brain called substantia nigra. These neurons also contain a black pigmentation. When a person develops Parkinsons disease, these neurons are affected. This breakdown causes the person to tremor and instability in movements. The person can be diagnosed properly because when a person is affected by Parkinsons disease, their substantia nigra loose their pigmentation. However, this does not become noticeable until approximately 80 percent of it is effected. Although these structures are very small and account for little of the brains weight, they contain essential electrochemical connections with motor centers. This is responsible for how we move. Although movement is affected, intelligence is not.
It is not yet known what exactly causes Parkinsons disease. It is not thought that heredity plays a role, but this theory has not yet been proven. It could be possible that every person carries the possibility of contracting this disease, but not all are affected by it. It is possible that there are triggers in the environment that bring it out in some people, but once again, it may not cause it in all people. One example of a trigger in the environment would be that a developing fetus is exposed to a toxin. This may cause less than normal development of motor neurons. This may cause the baby to have Parkinsons disease when it gets older; however, this is not always the case.
There is not yet a cure for Parkinsons disease, but there are treatments that can improve the quality of life for most patients. These treatments do not slow the progression of the disease, it is meant to relieve the symptoms so that the person can remain independent and achieve their activities of daily living without assistance. After five or ten years of having the disease, a person may require higher doses of medicine because the illness will then be disrupting daily life. Many drugs are used in order for the person to maintain a normal life. Some examples are Levodopa, Dopamine receptor agonists, Amantadine, Tricyclic antidepressants, Sedatives, and stool softeners. There are also some alternative therapies that help in addition to drug therapy. These may include things such as diet. A person with Parkinsons should increase their daily fiber intake. There is a theory that an increase in vitamin E and C protect the delay of neurons. Tai Chi, a Chinese exercise that people with decreased movement ability may be capable of doing and they may enjoy it.
About ten years ago, I went to the doctor because my hands were shaking all the time and I was having trouble walking without falling over. He ran some tests on me and told me that I had Parkinsons disease. I was very scared and confused. I did not know what to do or how to react. How would this affect my family? How would I maintain my lifestyle? Would my friends treat me the same? All of these questions were flooding my mind, but I knew that life would go on no matter what. I was working as a nurse before I lost control of my movements. Therefore, I had to quit my job. Before I was diagnosed with Parkinsons disease, I could get in my care and go where ever I wanted, when I wanted. After my fifth wreck, caused by my tremors, I had to give up my drivers license. Now I am dependent on others more than I ever imagined I would be. After four long years of my family taking care of me at home, they realized that I was a bigger task than they thought, so they decided to place me in a Long Term Care Facility. Since Ive been here, I have been doing as good as can be expected for a person with a degenerative disease.