Overview of Parkinson’s disease
Parkinson’s disease is a neurological disease that often occurs when a group of cells in the brain degenerates, unable to control muscle movement, making it difficult for people to walk, slow leg movements, and stiff limbs. As the disease progresses, it can affect nerve cells, causing a lack of dopamine.
Currently, there is still no method to completely cure patients with Parkinson’s disease, but there are only measures to help improve the quality of life and delay the progression of the disease.
So what is Parkinson’s disease? What causes Parkinson’s disease? And is Parkinson’s disease hereditary?
Causes of Parkinson’s disease
Scientists have not yet explained the cause of the degeneration and death of neurotransmitter-producing brain cells, but can only suggest a number of different factors that cause the disease, such as: age (old age), genetics, environmental factors, and even viruses…
Symptoms of Parkinson’s disease
Patients with Parkinson’s disease have some of the following symptoms and signs:
- Personality changes: Because the brain is often responsible for thinking, acting, perceiving and reacting to situations, any change in personality is an early cause of Parkinson’s disease.
- Slow coordination of activities: this is one of the most obvious signs of Parkinson’s disease in the early stages. With symptoms such as: any change in posture such as turning the head, turning the body, buttoning, tying shoelaces… is done at a slow, unclear speed.
- Decreased sense of smell: in the early stages, Parkinson’s disease often affects the sense of smell, making the patient unable to distinguish the smell of food, this condition becomes more severe if not treated promptly.
- Intestinal problems: with signs such as constipation or common digestive problems, especially in the elderly.
- Shoulder pain: persistent shoulder pain, even with medical intervention such as medication without relief, is one of the signs of Parkinson’s disease.
- Fatigue: Frequent fatigue accompanied by one of the early signs of Parkinson’s disease will be a high risk of .
- There are some changes in daily living habits such as: changes in writing, voice, mood swings.
- Some common symptoms of the disease include: slight tremors when the disease has progressed, problems with movement, sleep disorders, facial paralysis, fainting, loss of balance.
Parkinson’s disease risk factors
Parkinson’s disease is often high in the elderly, increasing with age, especially from 60 years old and above. In terms of gender, men are more likely to get Parkinson’s disease than women.
Factors that increase the risk of Parkinson’s disease include: age, genetic factors, gender, exposure to toxins.
Prevention of Parkinson’s disease
Measures to prevent Parkinson’s disease are as follows:
- Regular sunbathing to supplement enough vitamin D for the body. According to research by scientists, most patients with Parkinson’s disease have low levels of Vitamin D.
- Drinking green tea every day has the effect of preventing toxins that can kill nerve cells from entering the brain.
- Using coffee reasonably helps prevent many health problems, including helping to limit the risk of disease.
- Stay away from toxic environments, especially pesticides…
- Supplement nutrients from fruits rich in flavonoids.
- Have a scientific exercise regimen.
Diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease
To diagnose Parkinson’s disease, doctors do not have any tests that can be used to diagnose and confirm Parkinson’s disease, but only conclude through the patient’s signs over a long period of time to conclude.
Treatment of Parkinson’s disease
The treatment of Parkinson’s disease mainly relies on medication and rehabilitation exercises. In some cases, brain surgery is required for treatment. Prescriptions are adjusted based on the condition of the disease.
