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Parkinson's /
Parkinson's Disease: Tips for Caregivers/
By Sandra Ray, Staff Writer
With more than one million people affected with
Parkinson’s disease in the United States today,
there are many issues that caregivers are either
facing now or will face in the future. Parkinson’s
disease is a slow, degenerative disease manifesting
itself in stiff muscles, difficulty walking, and
other movement-related issues over time.
With the majority of those who are diagnosed over
the age of 60, there are still many people who are
diagnosed as young as age 30. Caregivers need to be
aware of not only the issues that Parkinson’s poses
for their loved ones, but ways that they can help
mitigate the damage and help in quality of life
decisions. Some of the areas where caregivers can
assist include: medication management, exercise and
diet, and reducing stress, and even issues related
to traveling.
Parkinson’s Disease – What Caregivers can
Expect:
In Parkinson’s disease, the body’s ability to
produce and utilize a neurotransmitter named
dopamine is affected. This particular
neurotransmitter affects the body’s ability to
control movement and coordination, as well as
regulating mood. The result is that body movements
become more stiff and regimented over time,
responding less to the move “fluid nuances” of
everyday movement that the body was once accustomed
to. Many people with Parkinson’s also face issues
related to depression when the amount of dopamine in
the brain decreases. Finally, dementia and
hallucinations are also a possibility, although only
about 20 percent of people with Parkinson’s will
also experience problems related to dementia. The
onset for dementia symptoms and other cognitive or
memory issues generally are noticed about 10 to 15
years after the first onset of Parkinson’s.
The first noticeable symptom of Parkinson’s is
usually a slight tremor in the limbs. Over time, the
patient will experience difficulty walking and may
progress into a typical “Parkinson’s Gait” –
shuffling, head facing downward, and little or no
swinging of the arms. Freezing in mid-stride is also
a common feature. Other secondary symptoms related
to Parkinson’s include difficulty swallowing, small
or cramped writing, loss of bowel control or
constipation, dry skin and scalp, and even excess
salivation.
Medication Management:
One of the issues that caregivers can face is
learning how to cope with the myriad of medications
that their loved ones may need to take to help
manage the disease. Some of these medications may
help manage symptoms related to movement, while
there are also medications needed to help offset
depression and mood issues. If your loved one is
experiencing difficulties related to dementia, there
could be other medications for that portion of the
disease as well.
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