Parkinson’s disease is also known by various other names such as idiopathic Parkinsonism, hypo kinetic rigid syndrome, paralysis agitans. It is the disease of brains that leads to shaking or tremor and difficulty in walking, movement and coordination. It is the disorder of nervous system.

Tremor and shaking are the most well known signs of Parkinson’s disease. Although Parkinson’s disease cannot be cured yet there are several medications that can be used to control the condition and the progress of disease.

Causes of Parkinson’s disease:

The cause of Parkinson’s disease is unknown yet there are several factors that may play an important role in initiating the problem of Parkinson’s disease:

• Genetics:

Certain research studies have shown that Parkinson’s disease can be caused due to certain types of mutations. There are a few chances of this disease to move in the family lineage.

• Environmental triggers:

According to few research programs, certain toxins and environmental factors increases the risks of Parkinson’s disease.

• The presence of lewvy bodies:

These are small clumps found in brain while suffering from Parkinson’s disease.

Parkinson’s disease often develops after the age of 50. Sometimes it may occur in young people also. It affects both men and women. The nerve cells use a brain chemical called dopamine to help control muscle movement. Parkinson’s disease occurs when the nerve cells in brain that makes this dopamine are destroyed.

Signs and Symptoms:

This may affect one or both sides of the body, and can include:

• Slow blinking, shaking
• Problems with balance and walking
• No expression in the face
• Hallucinations
• Muscle pains
• Movement problems
• Anxiety, stress, and tension
• Dementia
• Depression
• Fainting
• Memory loss
• Problems with unsteady balance and posture may make it hard to sit down in a chair, or to rise from one
• Walking is accomplished with small, shuffling steps and a stooped posture
• Stiffness or rigidity in the arms or legs and there is a slowing of body movements, called Bradykinesia

Adverse effects of the problem:

There are various complications that are associated with Parkinson’s disease. Here are the common problems that a patient with Parkinson’s disease is:

• Dementia and thinking difficulties
• Depression and emotional changes
• Difficulty in swallowing
• Disorders associated with sleep
• Stomach and bladder problems commonly linked with constipation and certain other bowel problems
• The person with Parkinson’s Disease may also face the following problems:

Difficulty in urination, loss of sexual interest, pain and smell dysfunction.

Preventive measures:

As the exact cause of Parkinson’s disease is a mystery, similarly the preventive techniques are also unknown. But many research studies have shown that having a caffeine rich drink like soda, coffee and tea is good to reduce the risk of developing Parkinson’s disease.

Common Parkinson’s disease medicines:

The following medicines are commonly prescribed for the patients with this disease. These below given drugs are available on several online pharmacies, so you can buy anti parkinsonian medicines online also.

• Syndopa
• Ropark
• Syncapone
• Syndopa CR
• Pramipex

Myths and facts:

Myth: the PD only affects movements

Fact: although this disease affects motor ability, but there are many other difficulties that a Parkinson’s disease patient faces like pain, fatigue, sexual dysfunction etc.

Myth: doctor can predict the future of a Parkinson’s patient

Fact: it is not true as unlike from the other health issues, this disease is variable and there is no way to predict the health of the patient.

Diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease:

Alone the symptoms can be difficult to assess, particularly in the elderly. They become clearer as the illness gets worse. A doctor's examination may show:

• Difficulty starting or finishing voluntary movements
• Jerky, stiff movements
• Muscle atrophy
• Shaking (tremors)
• Changes in your heart rate

Tests may be needed to rule out other disorders that cause similar symptoms.

Treatment for Parkinson’s disease:

There is no known cure for this disease. The medicines used for the treatment have following targets:

• Boost the levels of dopamine in the brain
• Mimic the effects of dopamine

The goal of the treatment is to control the symptoms. People with PD should consider having surgery (deep brain stimulation surgery) before the disease takes too great a toll on their independence, employment, and self confidence. Younger people with unilateral symptoms are the best candidates for surgery, but there is no true age limit or lack of substantial benefit for older individuals.

Medications used to treat movement-related symptoms of Parkinson's disease include:

• Levodopa and Pramipexole: for movement
• Amantadine and Anticholinergics medications for tremors
• Memantine, Rivastigmine, Galantamine for cognitive difficulties
• Antidepressants for mood disorders
• Gabapentin, duloxetine for pain
• Fludrocortisone, midodrine, botox, sidenafil for autonomic dysfunction
• Armodafinil, clonazepam, zolpidem: for sleep disorders

These medicines are quite effective in controlling the progress of this disease and hence, you can easily buy these anti-Parkinson’s medications online from various reputed pharmacies on cheap prices.

Surgery:

When patients stop responding well enough to medications surgery is considered as the single solution. The options available are:

• Deep brain stimulation in which the electrodes are placed for brain mapping
• Precise destruction of targeted areas of the brain. These areas are destroyed as they are responsible for the most troubling symptoms.

Steps to improve the health:

• Providing good nutritional requirements, speech therapy, exercise and avoiding stress may prove to be beneficial for the patient with the disease
• Regular exercise and a balanced diet also may help to improve a patient's overall sense of well-being and body control
• Assistive devices, such as special eating utensils, wheelchairs, bed lifts, shower chairs, walkers, and wall bars
• A speech therapist may work with you to help you talk or swallow
• Do not drive unless your caregiver says it is okay
• It’s proven that with a diet containing fibre, flavonoids found in fruits and plants, pepper, protein and calcium can tremendously improve the condition of the patient

Important thing to know:

• This Parkinson’s disease is named after the English doctor James Parkinson. He is the one who published the first detailed description in An Essay on the Shaking Palsy in 1817
• For further knowledge and help you can contact the National Parkinson Foundation or the American Parkinson Disease Association.