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Parkinson's Disease: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatments

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Suffering from a health condition can affect your overall well-being and quality of life. While some conditions get better over time with the right treatment and medication, others are progressive or worsen as days pass by. Parkinson’s disease is one such progressive condition that mostly affects the elderly population. It is a neurological disorder that causes uncontrolled movements, difficulty walking and talking, and other symptoms. Read on to understand what causes Parkinson’s disease and the symptoms of the condition.

What is Parkinson’s disease?

Parkinson’s disease is an age-related nervous system disorder that causes parts of the brain to deteriorate over time. In addition to affecting thinking ability and mental health, the condition makes it difficult for the patient to control his/her muscle movement and balance. Parkinson’s is one of the most common motor brain diseases among the elderly, and there is no cure for the condition. However, it can be managed with the right medication, lifestyle changes, and therapies.

Parkinson’s Symptoms

The early signs and symptoms of Parkinson’s disease are:

• Voice changes

• Reduced ability to smell

• Constipation

• Curved or stooped posture due to slowed movements and stiffness

• Cramped or small handwriting due to muscle control issues

Some major motor problems visible early on are:

• Slowed movements

• Tremors when the muscles are at rest

• Problems with balance while walking

• Stiffness of arms, legs, and trunk

• Unstable posture and tendency to fall

Parkinson’s patients may exhibit the following secondary symptoms due to reduced muscle control in different parts of the body such as

• Very soft voice or low-volume speech

• Mask-like face expression or looking blank or expressionless

• Blinking less often

• Trouble swallowing

• Drooling

• Getting stuck when walking

• Falling backwards

• Parkinsonian gait or taking slow, shuffling steps

The other non-motor symptoms of the condition are:/h3>

• Gastrointestinal problems

• Urinary inconsistency

• Low blood pressure when standing

• Sleep problems, such as rapid eye movement behaviour disorder, periodic limb movement disorder, restless legs syndrome, and seeing vivid dreams

• Anxiety

• Depression

• Hallucinations

• Parkinson’s-related dementia or problem focusing and thinking

What causes Parkinson’s disease?

Although the exact cause of Parkinson’s disease is still unclear, the following risk factors may increase your odds of developing the condition

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1. Age:

The risk of developing Parkinson’s disease increases with age. The condition is more common among individuals aged 60 and above. Only a small percentage of people may develop the condition before the age of 40.

2. Family history:

Having one or more close relatives with Parkinson’s disease can also increase your risk of developing the condition.

3. Sex:

Men are at a higher risk of developing Parkinson’s disease than women.

4. Toxins:

Ongoing exposure to pesticides, herbicides, and other toxins may increase your risk of developing the condition.

5. Head injury:

Suffering severe head injuries may lead to Parkinson’s disease in some people.

Diagnosing Parkinson’s disease

There is no definite test for diagnosing Parkinson’s disease. However, healthcare practitioners usually diagnose the condition by asking certain questions to the patient, examining the symptoms and checking his/her medical history.

The healthcare practitioner may also advise the following tests to rule out other conditions. These tests are done if the patient does not respond to treatment for Parkinson’s disease.

• Blood tests

• CT scan or computed tomography scan

• MRI or magnetic resonance imaging

• PET scan or positron emission tomography scan

• DAT scan or dopamine transporter scan

• Genetic testing

Treatments for Parkinson’s disease

There is no surefire treatment for Parkinson’s disease, so the condition cannot be cured completely. However, certain treatments and remedies can ease the symptoms and help you manage the condition.

1. Lifestyle changes:

These include consuming a healthy diet and getting restful sleep at night. Including exercise and yoga in your workout regimen can strengthen muscles and improve flexibility, balance, and coordination.

2. Therapies:

Doctors often advise physiotherapy, speech therapy, occupational therapy, and massage therapy for Parkinson’s patients.

3. Medications:

Healthcare practitioners prescribe certain medications to manage physical and mental health symptoms related to the disease.

4. Treatments:

These may include surgeries, such as deep brain stimulation and pump-delivered therapy.

Medications

The medications prescribed to Parkinson’s patients can help make the following changes in the brain and ease the symptoms of the condition —

• Increase dopamine:

Parkinson’s patients may have low levels of dopamine in the part of the brain that supports movement. Therefore, doctors prescribe medications that can increase dopamine levels in the brain and improve balance and movement.

• Stimulate dopamine:

Doctors may prescribe dopamine agonists to activate dopamine receptors in the brain. These medicines work the same way as dopamine works, so your brain thinks they are dopamine. Therefore, they reduce the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease and improve the quality of life.

• Block dopamine metabolism:

Dopamine metabolism blockers prevent dopamine breakdown in the body. This assists in maintaining suitable levels of dopamine in the brain and helps people with Parkinson’s disease.

• Adenosine blockers:

Overactivation of adenosine receptors suppresses movement. Therefore, prescribing adenosine blockers to Parkinson’s patients may reduce stiffness and support easy movement.

The prescribed medication can ease specific symptoms of the condition, such as movement problems, anxiety, depression, dementia, sleep problems, fatigue, constipation, and hallucinations.

• Surgeries

When Parkinson’s patients do not respond to medication, lifestyle changes, and therapies, healthcare practitioners may recommend the following surgeries —

1. Deep brain stimulation:

In this surgery, the surgeon implants electrodes in certain parts of the brain. These electrodes generate electrical impulses that alter brain activity and reduce movement-related symptoms of the condition, such as tremors, rigidity, and slow movement.

2. Pump-delivered therapy:

This treatment is used for delivering a combination of medications to the body with the help of a pump. The pump is placed near the small intestine surgically.

Parkinson’s is a lifelong and progressive disease, and living with the condition is expensive. However, if you are covered under suitable health insurance plans, such as a critical illness cover, the insurer will help you pay your medical bills. Having the right health insurance policy also enables you to opt for timely treatment at reputed healthcare centres without burning a hole in your pocket.

FAQs

1. Can I manage the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease?

Parkinson’s disease cannot be self-diagnosed or treated. Therefore, if you notice signs and symptoms of the condition, talk to your doctor about it without delay. Timely diagnosis and the right treatment can prevent the condition from progressing fast and help improve your quality of life. Do not try any medication or therapy without consulting your doctor.

2. How can we reduce the risk of developing Parkinson’s disease?

There is no definite way to reduce the risk of developing Parkinson’s disease. According to experts, around 10% of cases are genetic or hereditary. The remaining 90% of cases happen for reasons that are still not known.

However, research has shown that exercising regularly and including caffeinated beverages, such as tea and coffee, in the diet can help reduce the risk of developing the condition.

3. Is there any cure for Parkinson’s disease?

There is no cure for Parkinson’s disease, so one has to live with it. However, the prescribed medications can help ease the symptoms of the condition. You must also visit your healthcare provider as per the set schedule to manage the disease better.

4. Is Parkinson’s disease fatal?

Parkinson’s disease is not fatal. However, the condition may limit mobility or lead to health issues and other problems that can be fatal.

5. If I get diagnosed with Parkinson’s, how do I take care of myself?

If you get diagnosed with the condition, here’s what you must do:

• Take the prescribed medication on time.

• Talk to your doctor if you notice any side effects after taking the medicines.

• Visit your healthcare provider as recommended

• If you notice new symptoms or any difference in your health, talk to your doctor about it.

• Consume a nutritious diet and follow healthy lifestyle habits.

Conclusion

Parkinson’s disease is a common age-related neurological disorder. Although there is no definite cure for it, Parkinson’s symptoms can be managed with the right medication, therapies, and treatment. Parkinson’s disease can be hereditary, and having a close family member with the condition can increase your risk of getting the disease. Therefore, it is wise to stay covered under a critical illness insurance policy for those uncertain times. Having critical illness insurance for Parkinson’s disease and other life-threatening conditions can help you opt for quality and timely medical treatment without dipping into your savings.

Disclaimer: The above information is for illustrative purposes only. For more details, please refer to the policy wordings and prospectus before concluding the sales.

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