April is Parkinson’s Awareness Month, and there is no better way to raise awareness than to provide information that creates impact. Parkinson’s disease is a condition where a part of your brain deteriorates, causing more severe symptoms over time. While this condition is best known for how it affects muscle control, balance and movement, it can also cause a wide range of other effects on your senses, thinking ability, mental health, and more. Parkinson’s is a progressive disease. That means that your symptoms usually get worse over time. The symptoms of Parkinson’s also vary a lot from one person to the next. How quickly it worsens and how severe it gets can go a lot. Early symptoms may be easy to ignore or dismiss. They might start on one side of your body, showing up on the other side only later.
Who does it affect? High-risk population group
The risk of developing Parkinson’s disease naturally increases with age, and the average age at which it starts is 60 years old. It is slightly more common in men or people designated male at birth (DMAB) than in women or people assigned female at birth (DFAB).
While Parkinson’s disease is usually age-related, it can happen in adults as young as 20 (though this is extremely rare, and often people have a parent, full sibling, or child with the same condition).
How is Parkinson’s disease diagnosed and treated?
Diagnosing Parkinson’s disease is primarily a clinical process, meaning it relies heavily on a healthcare provider examining your symptoms, asking you questions, and reviewing your medical history. Some diagnostic and lab tests are possible, but these are usually needed to rule out other conditions or specific causes. However, most lab tests are not necessary unless you do not respond to treatment for Parkinson’s disease, which can indicate you have another condition.
Current studies show that Parkinson’s disease is not curable, however, there are multiple ways to manage its symptoms. Medications are the primary way to treat this condition. The treatments can also vary from person to person, depending on their specific symptoms and how well certain medicines work.
A secondary treatment option is surgery to implant a device that will deliver a mild electrical current to part of your brain (known as deep brain stimulation). There are also some experimental options, such as stem cell-based treatments, but their availability often varies, and many are not an option for people with Parkinson’s disease.
What’s more, several medications treat specific symptoms of Parkinson’s disease. Symptoms treated often include the following:
- Erectile and sexual dysfunction.
- Fatigue or sleepiness.
- Constipation.
- Sleep problems.
- Depression.
- Dementia.
- Anxiety.
- Hallucinations and other psychosis symptoms.
Selfcare tips for someone with Parkinson’s disease
If you have Parkinson’s disease, the best thing you can do is follow the guidance of your healthcare provider on how to take care of yourself.
- Take your medication as prescribed. Taking your medications can make a massive difference in the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease. You should take your medications as prescribed and talk to your provider if you notice side effects or start to feel like your medications are not as effective.
- See your provider as recommended. These visits are vital to helping with managing your conditions and finding the proper medications and dosages. Your healthcare provider will set up a schedule for you to see them.
- Do not ignore or avoid symptoms. Parkinson’s disease can cause a wide range of symptoms, many treatable by treating the condition or the symptoms themselves. Treatment can make a significant difference in keeping symptoms from having worse effects.
In a nutshell, caring for someone with Parkinson’s requires patience, an understanding of Parkinson’s symptoms, recognition of the importance of medication timing, and the ability to provide support on an ongoing basis. Not to worry about that, Comfort Paradise Home Care agency provides competent and consistent caregivers to assist in the wellbeing of your loved ones. At Comfort Paradise Home Care, Our dedicated and professional team is available around the clock to assist with grooming, bathing, getting them dressed, and eating. Contact us for reliable in-home care services: (323) 800-8215.