Parkinson's disease patients are plagued by symptoms such as shaking, stiffness, trembling, and difficulty balancing and coordinating. Nearly 10 million people worldwide are affected by this disease, which is increasing every day.

What Exactly is Parkinson’s Disease?

Parkinson's disease is caused by the production of dopamine by our brain cells. Now you might be thinking, what is dopamine? So dopamine is a chemical messenger responsible for controlling movements and coordination. A decrease in dopamine leads to symptoms such as stiff muscles, tremors, difficulty with coordination and balance, and slowed movements.

Symptoms of this disease can also lead to depression and other mental health problems as they progress.

It is not known what causes this disease, but genetics and the environment may be involved. A number of risk factors are associated with this disease, including head injuries, exposure to chemicals, and family history.

Symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease

The symptoms of Parkinson’s disease differ from person to person. They differ in severity and progression. Each person experiences different symptoms. 

The symptoms and signs are broadly divided into two categories: motor and non-motor.

Some of the motor symptoms of Parkinson’s disease are listed below – 

1. Tremors: Tremors or shaking are considered the first sign of this disease. It usually begins in the hand and fingers. We can rub our forefingers and thumb in a back-and-forth motion. This is known as a pill-rolling tremor. The hand can also tremble at rest, which can be decreased when we are not performing any tasks.
2. Stiffness: Stiffness is mostly caused in limbs and joints, and people find it difficult to move. And this symptom mainly affects people who have Parkinson's disease.
3. Slowed Movements: This disease slows down your movements, resulting in difficulty doing the simple task and hence taking more time to do the simple task. Steps we take also become shorter. It gets difficult to get out of the chair. And when we walk, our feet and legs may shuffle.
4. Rigid muscles: These can cause pain and limit our range of motion in many body areas. They can be stiff in many places of the body.
5. Loss of automatic movements: The tasks such as unconscious movements, which include blinking, smiling, or swinging, decrease the ability to perform these. And also causes pain in the arms while doing some movements.
6. Bradykinesia: Slowed movements or difficulty in initiating movement is also a symptom of people who are affected by Parkinson's disease.
7. Akinesia is when people freeze while moving or doing some other activity.
8. Postural instability: These symptoms result in difficulty maintaining balance and coordination.

Let's now take a look at the non-motor symptoms. Mood disturbances, cognitive difficulties, and sensory disturbances are generally included. Some others are listed below -  

• Depression
• Anxiety
• Disturbances in sleep
• Losing smelling senses
• Constipation
• Loss of Energy or Fatigue.

Causes of Parkinson’s Disease

The reason for the diseases is still unknown, as we discussed earlier. Researchers and scientists identified a few of the factors that contribute to the development of the disease.

A genetic factor, an environmental factor, and a lifestyle factor constitute the main factors. Let's examine each factor one by one -

Genetics Factor: Some scientists and researchers say that this disease can be inherited from family members if they have a history of people suffering from this disease. And hence the disease can be inherited from the family member as well.

Environmental Factor: it is suggested to stay away from exposure to certain toxins, such as pesticides, insecticides, and herbicides increase the risk of this disease.

Lifestyle Factors: when we intake highly processed food and have an improper sleep schedule, this all results in contributing factors to Parkinson's disease.  

Treating Parkinson’s Disease

Parkinson's disease cannot be cured, but some treatments are available that help manage the symptoms and improve the quality of life.

Several medications can help reduce motor symptoms, such as stiffness and tremors. These include Levodopa, Carbidopa, and Sinemet.

Various physical therapies are also given to help strengthen and improve muscle flexibility, which helps improve mobility.

Parkinson's disease is also positively affected by other lifestyle changes. The non-motor symptoms commonly associated with our lifestyle are discussed above. You can improve your way of life by changing them. A healthy and balanced diet can improve our overall health and reduce our symptoms. 

It is also possible to take supportive therapies, such as speech therapy and occupational therapy, to enhance our functioning and quality of life daily.

Conclusion:

There is still no cure for Parkinson's disease, which affects thousands of people worldwide. Nevertheless, many changes have been made to improve life quality and provide treatment for it. 

It can be a challenging journey for someone suffering from this illness, but support and resources are available, such as therapies and lifestyle changes. They will be able to manage the disease and enhance their quality of life.

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