Diagnosed With Parkinson’s Disease? You’re Not Alone

Parkinson’s Disease affects those between the ages of 50 and 60 but can affect younger people. It often goes unnoticed by everyone including the patient themselves as the symptoms can be very mild at first appearing with a small shake in a hand while it’s resting or can appear as weakness or stiffness in a limb. These symptoms will eventually progress and worsen to a shaking or tremor that spreads throughout the body. Muscles will become stiffer slowing down movements affecting coordination and balance that worsen and deteriorate in time.

Famous people who have been diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease are Johnny Cash, Muhammad Ali and Michael J. Fox.

Johnny Cash

Symptoms differ in each person and can start at different levels. What symptoms one person may have with the disease another may develop at a later stage or not at all. These symptoms can include tremors, rigidity of muscles, changes in speech and moods. Treatments and medication can help relieve the symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease, however, there’s no known cure. Some patients don’t respond to treatment or medication and full blown Parkinson’s can be crippling or disabling.

Parkinson’s disease is a form of Parkonism. The term refers to a set of symptoms commonly associated with Parkinson’s disease but sometimes deriving from other causes and can often be present in persons with other neurological conditions.

Muhammad Ali

Affected area of the brain

In Parkinson’s disease nerve cells gradually degenerate in a part of the brain called the ‘Basal Ganglia’ that heavily relies on the balance of dopamine and acetylcholine for proper function. This area of the brain is responsible for regulating movement, balance and coordination. Researchers believe that in some cases genetics plays a big role in Parkinson’s disease; however it may be caused by a viral infection or possibly due to the exposure of environmental toxins.

Michael J. Fox

General Symptoms

• Balance becomes unsteady, postural instability
• Difficulty getting up from sitting position
• Becoming light headed or fainting when standing up
• Stiffness in body, rigidity of trunk
• Change in facial expression
• Cognitive impairment & decline
• Stooped posture
• Poor arm swing
• Tremors and shaking of limbs, jaw and face
• Bradykinesia, or slowness of movement
• Speech becomes monotonous
• Decreased eye blinking
• Anxiety & Depression
• Swallowing problems at later stages of the disease

People with the disease have reported anxiety, depression, personality changes, psychosis, dementia, impulse control difficulties and sleep problems. This disease will be difficult to live with for some who may seek counselling for their condition.

Sources

Web MD – http://www.webmd.com/parkinsons-disease/guide/understanding-parkinsons-disease-symptoms
Psychiatric Online – http://psychnews.psychiatryonline.org/doi/10.1176/pn.47.2.psychnews_47_2_29-a
Bio – http://www.biography.com/people/billy-graham-9317669#legacy

Images

Creative Commons – Muhammad Ali – by Ross Day https://help.yahoo.com/kb/flickr/SLN25525.html?impressions=truehttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/
Micheal J. Fox Image by: Huma Kahn – https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/

Where to get help

Recently Diagnosed with Parkinson’s?  Parkinson’s Australia  – FREE CALL: 1800 644 189

If you need help, talking to your doctor is a good place to start. If you’d like to find out more, or talk to someone else, here are some organisations that can help…
Search for a counsellor near you – www.theaca.net.au

Lifeline – A free 24 hour Crisis Counselling service – 13 11 14
https://www.lifeline.org.au/
Kids Help Line – 1800 55 1800 – http://kidshelpline.com.au/
Men’s Line Australia – 1300 789 978 – 24/7 Men’s counselling and online support service. https://www.mensline.org.au/emotions-and-mental-wellbeing/mental-wellbeing-for-men
SANE Australia Living with a mental illness? Call 1800 18 7263
Beyondblue Do you have feelings of depression or anxiety? Call 1300 22 4636 or chat online

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