Parkinson’s disease is one of the most common disorders of the nervous system and usually occurs in people over 50. Occasionally, Parkinson’s disease will develop in adults under 50 but this is quite unusual.
In some instances, the disease does run in a family. In a situation where a young person gets the disease, in most cases it runs in that family.
What Causes Parkinson’s Disease?
Our nerve cells utilize a brain chemical dopamine to control how our muscles move. This disease happens when the nerve cells in your brain that produce dopamine are destroyed over time. When the nerve cells do not have dopamine, it means that area of your brain is not able to send messages properly. This is what causes the loss of muscle function, and it gets worse over time. We do not yet know why these brain cells are destroyed.
Common Symptoms
The symptoms of the disease often are mild in the early stages. You may notice that you have a slight tremor, or a feeling that one of your legs might be dragging a bit. The symptoms can affect the left or right side, and include these:
- Constipation
- Slow blinking
- Hard time swallowing
- Drooling
- Difficulty with balance and walking (mobility aids can help)
- Difficulty with fine hand movements; you may find writing to be difficult
- Shaking or tremors in the arms and hands at rest; usually goes away when you are moving
- A stooped posture
Treatments
At this time, there is no cure for Parkinson’s disease. The best treatments merely control symptoms. Medicines that are available help to boost dopamine levels in our brains. At some parts of the day, the medication may wear off, and the symptoms may come back.
Some of the common drugs to treat this disease include:
- Levodopa
- Pramipexole
- Selegiline
- Amanatadine
- Entacapone
Parkinson’s Mobility Supplies
Your life with Parkinson’s disease can be made quite a bit easier with a number of Parkinson’s products:
- Recliner Riser: This product helps to lift up your chair so that it is easier for you to stand and to sit. When you stand from the chair with this riser, it will raise the chair 1.75 inches, and will limit the forward tilting to about three inches. This extra 4-5 inches of support makes it easier for you to stand.
- Car Caddie: This simple nylon loop makes it easier for you to get in or out of your car. It just loops around the window and gives you support as you enter or exit the vehicle.
- Turn Easy Transfer Disc: This product makes transfers both safer and easier. It is made for any sort of transfer, especially one that is in a closed space. The rubber disc on its bottom gives a non slipping surface, and the plastic disk on top slides against the fabric center.
The use of these Parkinson’s supplies can really make managing this disease easier.
