TO YOUR HEALTH: Watch for signs of Parkinson's

Parkinson’s, the disease brought to public awareness by actor Michael J. Fox, is a degenerative disorder of the central nervous system for which early diagnosis and treatment can provide significant relief.     Although its cause remains unknown, many researchers believe Parkinson’s Disease (PD), which belongs to a group of conditions called movement disorders, may be triggered by genetic susceptibility, environmental factors and/or viral exposure.     Chronic and progressive, persisting over time with symptoms growing worse, PD affects at least 500,000 people in the United States. While not contagious, its risk increases with age. Average age of onset is 60 years, and the incidence of PD rises significantly thereafter.     About 50,000 Americans are diagnosed with PD each year, but getting an accurate count is difficult because symptoms in the early stages of the disease can be subtle. Many people assume their symptoms are due to normal aging and do not contact their doctors. Diagnosis is difficult because there is no definitive test for PD and other conditions may produce similar symptoms. However, it’s important to pay attention to early symptoms because even though there is no permanent cure, there are treatments that can provide relief and delay symptoms’ progression. In some cases, symptoms can even be reversed for many years.     The four main symptoms are tremor, or trembling in hands, arms, legs, jaw, or head; rigidity, or stiffness of the limbs and trunk; bradykinesia, or slowness of movement; and postural instability, or impaired balance. As these become more pronounced, patients may have difficulty walking, talking, or completing other simple tasks.     Friends or family members may be the first to notice changes in someone with early PD. They may see that the person’s face lacks expression and animation or that the person does not move an arm or leg normally. They also may notice that the person seems stiff, unsteady, or unusually slow.     People with PD often develop a so-called parkinsonian gait that includes a tendency to lean forward, taking small quick steps, and reduced swinging of the arms. PD patients may also have trouble initiating movement or stop suddenly as they walk.     A number of symptoms may accompany PD, including depression, emotional mood swings, dementia or cognitive challenges, sleep disorders, sexual dysfunction, fatigue, loss of energy and pain. Other physical manifestations include difficulty swallowing and chewing, speech changes, urinary problems or constipation, skin issues, fluctuating blood pressure, muscle cramps and dystonia, sustained muscle contractions that cause forced or twisted positions.     Medications or surgery can sometimes provide dramatic relief from the symptoms. Deep brain stimulation, or DBS, uses an electrode implanted into the brain to painlessly stimulate the brain in a way that helps to stop many of the symptoms of PD.     A variety of supportive modalities for PD include standard physical, occupational, and speech therapies, which can help with such problems as gait and voice disorders, tremors and rigidity, and cognitive decline.     A normal, healthy fiber-rich diet and drinking plenty of fluids will help maintain general health. Exercise will not stop disease progression, but can help improve mobility, flexibility and overall body strength so the person is less disabled. Exercises also improve balance, help minimize gait problems and help people can speak and swallow better. Exercise can also improve emotional well being. Sandra Kuniyoshi, MD, Ph.D., is a board certified neurologist on staff at John C. Lincoln–North Mountain Hospital who specializes in Parkinson’s Disease and other movement disorders. She sees patients at Sun Valley Neurology in Suite C-500, 3201 W. Peoria Ave., 602-439-0220. The information in “To Your Health” is provided by the John C. Lincoln Healthcare Network as general information only. For medical advice, consult your physician.

 

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