How to Understand Parkinson’s Disease

What is Parkinson’s disease?

Parkinson’s Disease is a disorder or a neurological illness that is caused by the slow loss of cells in the small portion of the brain known as the substantia nigra. As the cells die, the brain cannot produce a vital chemical – dopamine. The illness was named after Dr. James Parkinson from London that described the illness in 1817. Parkinson’s Disease is a disorder that slowly progresses over time with the symptoms increasing in severity as the disorder increases. As the disease progresses old symptoms become worse and new symptoms appear.

Symptoms of Parkinson’s disease

Symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease include slowing movement, shaking of the hands, stiffness, loss of facial expression, loss of balance, reduction in the volume of speech, reduction in the clarity of speech, problems swallowing, dry skin, change in handwriting size, urinary problems, constipation, and depression.

Most individuals with the onset of Parkinson’s Disease notice a tremor with one hand. However, some individuals do not have any tremors or shaking at all in the early stages. Remember the symptoms listed above are the most common. Some individuals do not experience the same symptoms whereas another person may have all the symptoms.

As the disease progressions symptoms become worse and other symptoms may appear. Not all individuals will have these symptoms, however a large number of person with Parkinson’s Disease noticed these problems which include fatigue, stooped posture, impaired motor coordination, impaired fine motor dexterity, decreased arm swing, speech problems, sexual dysfunction, drooling, sleep problems depression, pain, and confusion.

Diagnosing Parkinson’s Disease

To learn if a person has Parkinson’s Disease there is no actual test a physician can do to diagnose the disease however, they can look for the major signs. The major signs of the disorder include tremors while at rest, rigidity, and bradykinesia. Other ways that physicians can diagnose the disease is by ruling out other illnesses or problems such as antipsychotic medications or several small strokes in the part of the brain that controls movement.

The tests the physician will perform include a neurological exam including such tests as movements, reflexes, and reactions. In order to check for tremors the physician will just have to inspect and watch the arms and hands at rest. In order to test for rigidity the physician will need to move the neck, the lower limbs, and the upper limbs while the person is relaxed to feel for any type of resistance when the area is moved. The physician will test for Bradykinesia by seeing how fast the person can hit their finger and thumb together or tap their foot.

The physician will also ask questions regarding your medical history. He/she will need to know if the person has taken medications that might be the cause of dopamine being blocked in the brain. These medications include Acetophenazine,
Amoxapine, Chlorpromazine, Fluphenazine, Haloperidol, Loxapine, Mesoridazine, Metaclopramide, Molindone, Perphenazine, Piperacetazine, Prochlorperazine, Promazine, Promethazine, Thiethylperazine, Thioridazine, Thiothixene, Trifluoperazine, Triflupromazine, and Trimeprazine.

Just because a person may have the symptoms associated with Parkinson’s Diseasethis does not mean they have the disorder, there are other illnesses that can be mistaken for Parkinson’s Disease including Progressive supranuclear palsy, essential tremor, vascular, Multiple system atrophy, and poisoning by such things as some pesticides, manganese, and carbon monoxide.

Treatments for Parkinson’s disease

In the majority of cases since Parkinson’s Disease is caused due to the reduction of dopamine production in the brain, medications are often used to add this vital chemical to the body. There are different medications that a physician may prescribe including Sinemet, Pramipexole, Ropinirole, Bromocriptine, Pergolide, Cabergoline, Anticholinergics, Trihexiphenidyl, Benztropine, Biperiden, and Ethopropazine.