Parkinson’s disease can be a new name for many people, due to which they are not able to recognize its symptoms. Apart from this, it also becomes difficult for them to get treatment for it. According to reports and scientific study, the number of Parkinson’s patients is about 6.2 million, out of which 117,400 people die due to it worldwide.
These figures are enough to explain the magnitude of this disease, despite which it is quite unfortunate that there is a lack of awareness among people about Parkinson’s disease.
WHAT IS PARKINSON’S DISEASE?
Parkinson’s disease refers to a mental and nervous system disorder or illness in which there are problems in the human body like –
- Stiffness
- Difficulty in walking
- Difficulty in balance
- Lack of coordination.
- Parkinson’s disease starts like a normal disease, which becomes severe after some time.
WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF PARKINSON’S DISEASE?
The symptoms or signs of Parkinson’s disease can vary from person to person. Often, these symptoms appear on one side of the body, causing damage to that particular part of the brain.
Despite this, it is clear from the studies done on Parkinson’s disease that people who see these 5 symptoms in their body, they should immediately check their health by seeing a doctor because these can be signs of Parkinson’s disease-
- Shivering and tremors– The main symptom of Parkinson’s disease is shakiness in the body.
It starts from a small part of the body like the finger and hand which after some time spreads throughout the body. - Decreased working capacity– If a person has a sudden decrease in working capacity, then he should report it to his doctor as it can be a symptom of Parkinson’s disease.
- Muscle stiffness– In such a situation, medical help is needed so that it can be controlled in time.
- Difficulty in talking – Speech becomes slurred and difficult to understand
- Difficulty in writing – Another symptom of Parkinson’s disease is difficulty in writing. This problem should be looked into carefully because it is a sign of Parkinson’s disease.
WHAT CAN CAUSE PARKINSON’S DISEASE?
The exact cause of Parkinson’s disease is not yet known. Scientists have hypothesized the causes of Parkinson’s disease according to their understanding.
From their hypotheses or studies were done on this disease, it was concluded that Parkinson’s disease can be mainly due to the following reasons-
- Genetic Cause– The main reason behind Parkinson’s disease is genetics. If any person in the family of a person has Parkinson’s disease, then he should take special care of his health so that he does not get Parkinson’s disease.
- Exposure to viruses – Often, Parkinson’s disease can also be caused by exposure to viruses. Although it can be treated with antibiotics, still people should take special care of their health.
- Suppression of the nerve of the brain– If a person’s brain nerve is suppressed, then the chances of getting Parkinson’s disease are very high. Such people should start their treatment as soon as possible so that they do not have the possibility of getting Parkinson’s disease.
- Injury to the head– People who have had a head injury can also get Parkinson’s disease. Such people should not do any kind of carelessness because doing so can prove to be fatal.
- Environmental factors – Parkinson’s disease is mainly caused by the environment as well. In such a situation, if a person lives in an environment containing pollution, chemicals, etc., then there is a possibility of serious diseases like Parkinson’s disease.
WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT LEVELS OF PARKINSON’S DISEASE?
Parkinson’s disease can reach from mild to severe, on the basis of which it can be divided into 5 levels-
- First Level- The first stage of Parkinson’s disease is when the symptoms of this disease are not visible. For such a reason it is difficult for a person to understand that he has got Parkinson’s disease.
- The second level– When a person’s body parts are shivering, it is called the second stage of Parkinson’s disease.
- The third level– At this stage, the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease start appearing. Along with this, people suffering from it have to face other problems like holding the glass, holding the cup of tea, etc.
- The Fourth level– The next level of Parkinson’s disease is difficulty in walking or standing. In this condition, people need some support to stand or walk.
- The Final or fifth level– The final stage of Parkinson’s disease affects the mental ability of people suffering from it. In this situation, people have to face problems like weak memory, staying in dilemma, etc.
HOW IS PARKINSON’S DISEASE DIAGNOSED?
It is believed that early detection of any disease increases the chances of getting rid of it to a great extent.
This also applies to Parkinson’s disease, so its detection can improve people’s lives.
Thus, if a person is suspected to be suffering from Parkinson’s disease, he can confirm whether he is suffering from Parkinson’s disease or not in the following way-
- Checking Health History or Health History – The easiest way to diagnose Parkinson’s disease is by examining the health history or health history.
The doctor should try to find out from this whether a person does not have symptoms of this disease. - Getting a CT scan– Often, doctors diagnose Parkinson’s disease through a CT scan as well.
In this test, a picture of the internal part of the human body is taken and it is ascertained to what extent Parkinson’s disease has reached it. - Performing MRI– In addition to CT scan, Parkinson’s disease is also diagnosed by MRI.
In this, the internal part of the brain is examined and it is ascertained, in which part of the brain there is a problem. - Dopamine transporter (DAT) test – At present, the test called dopamine transporter (DAT) is also proving to be very popular in the diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease. Although this test does not accurately diagnose Parkinson’s disease, it still gives an indication to the doctor that there is something wrong with the person’s brain.
TREATMENT OF PARKINSON’S DISEASE
As soon as a person becomes aware that he is suffering from Parkinson’s disease, he should start his treatment immediately.
Therefore, people suffering from Parkinson’s disease can be treated mainly in these 5 ways-
- Making Lifestyle Changes– The easiest way to treat Parkinson’s disease is to make lifestyle changes. For this, healthy food, exercise, maintaining a balanced weight, etc. can prove to be effective measures.
- Taking medicines– In addition to making lifestyle changes, taking medicines can also prove to be helpful in the treatment of Parkinson’s disease. Medicines given by the doctor help to open the clogged vein of the brain so that Parkinson’s disease can end.
- Taking therapy– Apart from taking medicines, Parkinson’s disease can also be cured by therapy. This type of therapy works by relaxing the nerves of the brain and circulating blood to them.
- Exercising– Often, doctors also recommend some exercise to people suffering from Parkinson’s disease. These exercises help a person recover from Parkinson’s disease.
- Deep brain stimulation– When people suffering from Parkinson’s disease do not get relief in any way, then doctors recommend surgery to them. In this situation, deep brain stimulation is done, in which the surgeon inserts electrodes into the part of the brain. These electrodes are connected to the generator to calm the nerves of the brain.
If you or anyone you know is suffering from Parkinson’s, call us on (469) 545-9983 to book an appointment with our neurologist today.