India is home to nearly 0.58 million persons living with Parkinson's disease (PD) as estimated in 2016 and the number is increasing rapidly with every passing year. Although the number of Parkinson's patients is increasing every year, the amount of awareness is not increasing. So, through this blog, we will inform you of the causes and symptoms of this disease, which will help you to get the right medical help at the right time. Connect with Neotia Getwel Multispecialty Hospital for the best medical assistance and for 24*7 emergency care.

What is Parkinson’s Disease?

Parkinson's disease is a progressive disorder that affects the nervous system. So naturally it affects the parts of the body controlled by the nerves.

It is barely noticeable at the early stage because the majority of the time it starts tremor in just one hand. However, the symptoms increase with the passing of time.

What are the causes of Parkinson’s Disease?

Let us inform you that the exact cause of Parkinson’s is unknown. It may be both genetic and environmental. Some scientists believe that viruses can trigger Parkinson’s as well.

However, as the main cause it can be stated that Parkinson's disease is a degenerative neurological condition brought on by the loss of nerve cells in the substantia nigra, the region of the brain in charge of motor control. These nerve cells lose their ability to produce the vital neurotransmitter dopamine and either die off or deteriorate.

Research has shown that low levels of dopamine and norepinephrine (a substance that regulates dopamine) both have been linked with Parkinson’s.

During the research on Parkinson’s disease, it has been found that the patients of Parkinson’s disease have an abnormal protein called Lewy bodies in their brains. Scientists do not know what role, if any, Lewy bodies play in the development of Parkinson’s.

There are some specific groups of people who are more likely to develop Parkinson’s disease than others. The people are:

Men: Research has shown that one and a half times more likely to develop Parkinson’s than women.

Race: Research has clearly shown that white people are more open to Parkinson’s disease than black or Asian people. Geographic boundaries also play a crucial role in Parkinson’s disease.

Age: Most of the time, Parkinson’s usually appears between ages 50 and 60 years. It only occurs before 40 years old in about four per cent of cases.

Genetics: If anyone has a history of Parkinson’s patients in their family, they are more prone to this disease.

Head injury: People who experience head injuries may be more likely to develop Parkinson’s disease.

What are the symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease?

There are some early symptoms. These symptoms show before the motor problem starts. The symptoms are -

• Decreased ability to smell (anosmia)
• Constipation
• Small, cramped handwriting
• Voice changes
• Stooped posture

The four major motor problems seen are:

• Tremor (shaking that occurs at rest)
• Slow movements
• Stiffness of arms, legs, and trunk
• Problems with balance and a tendency to fall

Secondary symptoms include:

• Blank facial expression
• A tendency to get stuck when walking
• Muffled, low-volume speech
• Decreased blinking and swallowing
• Tendency to fall backwards
• Reduced arm swinging when walking
• Parkinsonian gait, which is the tendency to take shuffling steps while walking

Other associated symptoms may include:

• Flaky white or yellow scales on oily parts of the skin, known as seborrheic dermatitis
• Increased risk of melanoma, a serious type of skin cancer
• Sleep disturbances including vivid dreams, talking, and movement during sleep
• Depression
• Anxiety
• Hallucinations
• Psychosis
• Problems with attention and memory
• Difficulty with visual-spatial relationships

Let us inform you that Parkinson's disease symptoms can be different for everyone. The worst part is that the early signs go unnoticeable. This leads to a critical condition of the patient and makes the later part more difficult. Let's discuss some of the symptoms more clearly.

Tremor: Rhythmic shaking is called a tremor. Sometimes, it begins with the limb, while sometimes it begins with the hand or fingers. The patient may rub the thumb and forefinger back and forth. This is known as a pill-rolling tremor. In this symptom, the hand keep shaking when the hand is in rest mode, while the shaking may decrease when the patient is performing a task.

Slowed movement or bradykinesia: Over time, Parkinson's disease slows down the movements of the patient. It makes simple movements difficult & time-consuming as well. For example, the feet of the patient starts shuffling when they try to walk or they start taking a lot of time to get out of the chair.

Rigid muscles: Any muscle of the body can get rigid due to Parkinson's disease. This causes a lot of pain in the body & also creates a lot of issues in movement as well.

Impaired posture and balance: Due to Parkinson's disease the posture of a patient may become stooped and it also creates issues in balance which increases the chances of falling.

Loss of automatic movements: Parkinson's disease decreases or removes the abilities of to perform unconscious movements, including blinking, smiling or swinging arms during a walk.

Speech changes: Parkinson's disease creates a huge impact on speech. Due to Parkinson's disease speech can get soft or quick or slurry.

Writing changes: A patient suffering from Parkinson's disease faces a lot of issues in writing. The writing can appear as small as well.

Some common FAQs:

Is Parkinson's disease curable?

It is not curable. However, it can be treated.

How long can a person live with Parkinson's?

Let us inform you that the life expectancy rate of a Parkinson's patient is normal or near normal.

What is the main cause of Parkinson's disease?

Parkinson's disease is a progressive disorder that is caused by degeneration of nerve cells in the part of the brain called the substantia nigra, which controls movement. These nerve cells die or become impaired, losing the ability to produce an important chemical called dopamine.

Final words: It is true that Parkinson's disease is not curable at all. However, it can be treated. So, connect with the expert at the right time. Connect with Neotia Getwel Multispecialty Hospital for the best medical assistance and for 24*7 emergency care.

Disclaimer

Though all attempts are made to provide correct information on the subject, inadvertent & typographical errors arising out of manual intervention cannot be ruled out. It is requested to bring any such discrepancies to the notice of the blogger for correction.