Parkinson’s disease is a neurological condition that worsens over time and mostly affects mobility, but it can also cause a wide range of symptoms that interfere with daily activities. It comes due to the brain’s dopamine-producing neurons degenerating, which impairs motor control among other abilities.
Parkinson’s Disease Stages and Symptoms
Parkinson’s disease is typically categorized into five stages, each with its own set of symptoms that gradually worsen over time:
Stage 1:
● Symptoms are mild and usually affect only one side of the body.
● Common signs include slight tremors, stiffness, and slower movement.
● Symptoms may be subtle and do not significantly interfere with daily activities.
Stage 2:
● The body’s symptoms start to show more clearly and start to impact both sides.
● More noticeable tremors, rigidity, and bradykinesia (slowness of movement) occur.
● Walking might become more difficult, and daily tasks might take longer to finish.
Stage 3:
● A tendency to fall and a loss of equilibrium are obvious.
● Everyday chores get harder, and your movements get progressively slower.
● Even when their symptoms may start to interfere, patients can still operate on their own.
Stage 4:
● The symptoms worsen and become very incapacitating.
● The majority of everyday tasks require assistance, and using a walker or other aids when walking may be necessary.
● Patients may have more noticeable tremors and rigidity, as well as difficulty speaking and expressing themselves facially.
Stage 5:
● At this point, which is the most advanced, the person could need help to stand or walk.
● Patients frequently need full-time care since they may have serious mobility problems and cognitive loss.
● It’s also possible for non-motor symptoms like hallucinations, sadness, and dementia to become apparent.
How Does Parkinson’s Affect Your Daily Life?
Parkinson’s disease has a major impact on daily functioning, particularly as the condition worsens. Wrong execution of certain chores, including writing and buttoning clothes, can result in minor problems later on. It could get more difficult to move, eat, and dress as the condition develops. In addition to the distressing sense of having their freedom taken away from them, people may experience anxiety and depression. Use diverse facial expressions and speaking patterns when interacting with others; else, loneliness may be worsened.
Does Parkinson’s Affect Memory?
Parkinson’s disease can impact cognitive abilities, particularly memory, even though its symptoms are mainly related to movement. Mild cognitive impairment is a possibility for certain patients; symptoms may include memory loss, focus problems, and difficulty solving problems. Later on, some people may develop a more severe kind of cognitive loss that impairs thinking, memory, and judgment. This condition is referred to as Parkinson’s disease dementia.
What Is the Best Treatment for Parkinson’s Disease Available Currently?
Parkinson’s disease has no known cure, although there are a number of therapies that can help control its symptoms. Levodopa is the most widely used treatment; it helps to alleviate motor symptoms by acting as a stimulant for the brain’s production of dopamine. In order to increase its efficacy and lessen its negative effects, it is frequently coupled with carbidopa.
Dopamine agonists, MAO-B inhibitors, and deep brain stimulation (DBS), a surgical technique that involves implanting electrodes in the brain to control aberrant impulses, are some more treatments. Furthermore, speech, occupational, and physical therapy can support patients in maintaining their quality of life and managing their symptoms.
A person’s everyday life can be greatly impacted by the broad range of symptoms associated with Parkinson’s disease, a complex disease. Although a cure is not possible, therapies including deep brain stimulation and levodopa can help control symptoms and enhance quality of life. To provide comprehensive therapy, it is imperative to address both the motor and non-motor symptoms of the condition. Ayurvedic Panchakarma physician Dr. Kiran B. Nair, MD, BAMS, CEO of Vaidya Ayurveda Hospital in Perumbavoor, Kerala, promotes the value of treating Parkinson’s disease holistically, combining contemporary treatment with age-old Ayurvedic techniques to boost general health.
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