What is parkinson's disease?

Parkinson's disease is a problem with certain nerve cells in the brain that control movement. The disease affects the way you move. It can include tremors, slow movement, stiffness, and problems with balance. Parkinson's disease gets worse over time. But usually this happens slowly, over years.

Symptoms of Parkinson's disease differ from person to person. Tremor (shaking) may be the first symptom you notice. It's one of the most common signs of the disease, although not everyone has it.

Tremor often starts in just one arm or leg or on only one side of the body. It may be worse when you're awake but not moving the affected arm or leg. It may get better when you move the limb or you're asleep.

Other common symptoms include:

• Stiff muscles.
• Slow movement.
• Problems with balance or walking.
• Pain.

In time, Parkinson's affects muscles all through your body. It can lead to problems like trouble swallowing or constipation.

Some people with Parkinson's have depression. In the later stages of the disease, they may have a fixed or blank expression, trouble speaking, and other problems. Some people also lose mental skills (dementia).

Your doctor will ask questions about your symptoms and past health and do a neurological exam. This exam checks to see how well your nerves are working. There are no blood tests that can diagnose Parkinson's. But you might have tests, such as an MRI, to help rule out other diseases that could be causing your symptoms.

There is no cure for Parkinson's disease. But there are many treatments that can help your symptoms and improve your quality of life. You may decide to wait to start medicines if your symptoms aren't bothering you.

Your age, work status, family, living situation, and medical history can all affect decisions about when to start treatment, what types of treatment to use, and when to make changes in treatment. As your health condition changes, you may need regular changes in your treatment. You and your doctor will consider quality-of-life issues, side effects of treatment, and treatment costs.

You'll need to see your health care team to adjust your treatment as your condition changes. Your doctor, other health professionals, or Parkinson's support groups can help you get emotional support and education about the illness. This is important both early and throughout the course of the disease.

Treatments for Parkinson's include:

Medicines.

Levodopa and dopamine agonists are the main medicines for Parkinson's disease. Doctors sometimes use other medicines to treat people in the early stages of the disease or as supplements to later treatment. There are also medicines to help with the non-movement symptoms like urinary problems and constipation.

Surgery.

Brain surgery, such as deep brain stimulation, may be an option. It may be used when medicine can't control symptoms or causes severe or disabling side effects. For this treatment, a surgeon places wires in the brain. The wires carry tiny electrical signals to the parts of the brain that control movement. These little signals can help those parts of the brain work better.

Speech therapy.

Speech therapists use breathing and speech exercises to help you overcome speech problems like the soft speech and monotone voice that can develop with Parkinson's disease. They can also help you improve problems with eating, swallowing, and drooling.

Exercise and physical therapy.

Therapists may help you improve your walking and reduce your risk of falling. They can also give you exercises to improve your posture, strength, and flexibility. Exercise is an important treatment for this condition. Walking can be a good choice. Check to see if an exercise class for people with Parkinson's is available in your area.

Occupational therapy.

Therapists can help you learn new ways to do things for yourself so you can stay independent longer. For example, they can help you make simple changes so you can move around your house more easily. They can also help you make daily activities easier. These may include things like bathing and dressing.

Treatment for thinking problems.

You or your family members may notice that you start to have problems with memory, problem solving, learning, and other mental functions. When these problems keep you from doing daily activities, it's called dementia. There are medicines that can help treat dementia in people with Parkinson's.

Treatment for depression and anxiety.

These conditions are common in people with Parkinson's disease. It's important to be aware of them and get help. Counseling may help you feel better. Medicines can also help with the symptoms of these problems. Parkinson's support groups can help you learn ways to cope with them as well.

The tremor of Parkinson's disease isn't always severe, but it may affect many of your daily activities.

To help control tremor in your hand or arm when you are trying to use the hand, press the affected elbow against your body to make your upper arm stable. Then perform the movement. Wearing a rigid brace across a joint or putting a little weight on your hand may help to reduce tremor and restore control. Caffeine can make tremor worse, so reducing the amount of tea, coffee, or cola you drink may make the tremor less of a problem.