BRIDGEWAY EDUCATION SERIES:
APRIL IS PARKINSON'S AWARENESS MONTH
 
Parkinson's disease is a chronic and progressive disorder. Nearly 1 million people in the US are diagnosed with Parkinson's. The cause is unknown and while there is no cure, there are treatment options to manage the symptoms.
 
The cause of Parkinson's is still unknown. There are some genetic and environmental factors, but nothing has been finalized. Everyone will experience the symptoms of Parkinson's differently. For some, tremors will be a primary symptom while for others it may be poor balance.

SYMPTOMS

The diagnosis of Parkinson's does not come from a test, but instead requires a careful medical history and a physical examination to detect the cardinal signs of the disease, including:
  • Resting Tremor of the hands, arms, legs, jaw and face
  • Bradykinesia, also known as slowness of movement
  • Rigidity, stiffness of limbs and trunk
  • Postural Instability, impaired balance and coordination
Other motor symptoms related to the disease include:
  • Freezing, when an individual feels they may be glued to the floor, they cannot move forward
  • Micrographia, shrinkage in handwriting
  • Mask-like Expression, less expression than usual
  • Unwanted Accelerations, in speech and in movements going too fast
ADDITIONAL SYMPTOMS

Some early nonmotor symptoms include:
  • Loss of sense of smell, constipation
  • REM behavior disorder (a sleep disorder)
  • Mood disorders
  • Orthostatic hypotension (low blood pressure when standing up)
 
If a person has one or more of these symptoms, it does not necessarily mean that individual will develop Parkinson's, but these markers are helping scientists to better understand the disease process.
Some of these important and distressing symptoms include:
  • Sleep disturbances
  • Bladder problems
  • Excessive saliva
  • Weight loss or gain
  • Vision and dental problems
  • Fatigue and loss of energy
  • Depression
  • Fear and anxiety
  • Skin problems
  • Cognitive issues, such as memory difficulties, slowed thinking, confusion and in some cases, dementia
  • Medication side effects, such as impulsive behaviors
If you or your loved ones are experiencing one or more of these symptoms, please contact your doctor.
 
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