How To Combat Parkinson’s Disease

October 7, 2021

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What Is The Prognosis

Using Exercise to Combat Parkinson’s Disease

The average life expectancy of a person with PD is generally the same as for people who do not have the disease. Fortunately, there are many treatment options available for people with PD. However, in the late stages, PD may no longer respond to medications and can become associated with serious complications such as choking, pneumonia, and falls.

PD is a slowly progressive disorder. It is not possible to predict what course the disease will take for an individual person.

One commonly used scale neurologists use for describing how the symptoms of PD have progressed in a patient is the Hoehn and Yahr scale.

Home Remedyfor Parkinsons #5 Vitamin D & Vitamin E:

Inflammation and low immunity are two powerful factorsthat contribute to the development and worsening of Parkinsons disease. Bothvitamin D and vitamin E are strong anti-inflammatories and immune boosters. VitaminD & E also protect our brain cells and can even help damaged neurons regenerate. A deficiency of these key vitamins has also been linked to brain difficultiessuch as poor memory and recall attainability.

In regards to PD, a study of 157 Parkinsons patientsfound that the vast majority of them had severe to chronic vitamin Ddeficiencies. The findings, published in the Archives of Neurology in March of 2011, revealed a strong linkbetween inadequate levels of vitamin D and the onset of early Parkinson’sdisease.4

Back in 2002, another study was published in the Archives of Neurology which tracked themental decline of 3,000 men and women diagnosed with Parkinsons disease over a period of 7 years. The study found the participants whose supplemental vitamin E intakewas higher experienced a 36% reduction in theseverity of their symptoms compared to the rest of the group. Another study, whichappeared in the Lancet Neurology onlinemagazine in 2005, showed that vitamin E may actually prevent Parkinsonsdisease from developing in the first place! 8

Where to Get Your Vitamin D and Vitamin E From?

Surgery And Deep Brain Stimulation

Deep brain stimulation is a treatment for Parkinsonâs disease that uses an implantable pacemaker-like device to deliver electrical pulses to parts of the brain involved in movement. The DBS system consists of leads precisely inserted into a specific brain target, the neurostimulator implanted in the chest, and extension wires that connect the leads to the neurostimulator. Though implantation of the system requires a neurosurgical procedure, the treatment itself consists of long-term electrical stimulation. Advantages of DBS include its ability to reduce the high doses of medications , its adjustability , and its reversibility DBS was approved by the Food and Drug Administration as a treatment for PD in 2002 and according to Medtronic , more than 80,000 patients have undergone DBS surgery worldwide.

Typical candidates are those who have motor fluctuations or periods of âoffâ time with troublesome symptoms alternating with periods of âonâ time with good symptom control, and also with possible periods of excessive movement .

Not all patients with Parkinsonâs disease are good candidates for treatment with DBS. Approximately 10â20% of patients considered for possible treatment with DBS include those:

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What Will My Treatment Involve

In the beginning, a single medication or a combination of different medications can be used. Medical treatment is started in low doses and increased gradually. Furthermore, the effects of a medication can vary greatly between individuals and some may experience side effects. Therefore, treatment for people with Parkinson’s requires regular follow-up appointments with a doctor who has a good knowledge of the condition so that adjustments can be made as needed.

Symptoms can be effectively controlled, often using a combination of the following:

Natural Remedy For Parkinsons #4 Chlorella And Borax:

If you have a neurological disease such as Parkinsons orAlzheimers, the importance of removing heavy metals from the body – especiallyfrom the brain and nervous system – cannot be overstated. Heavy metalsaccumulate in the brain and nervous system at a rapid rate and cause damage tothe neurological pathways and brain inflammation. Fluoride is one ofthe worst, however, mercury, lead, aluminium and cadmium are also extremely dangerous.Chlorella and borax not only remove these heavy metals completely, theycontinue to prevent further toxic build-ups.

Chlorella is a miracle blue-green algae and one of themost powerful detoxifiers and chelators yet discovered. Whenits combined with cilantro, its benefits are enhancedsignificantly. A Russian study found that chlorella, combined with cilantro,was able to remove all heavy metals from the body, including fluoride and mercury,with no adverse or harmful side effects. You can purchase chlorellain powdered form online or from most health food stores. Just make sure you buythe Broken Cell Wall Chlorella as this is the strongest and most bio-available.For dosage recommendations, simply follow the directions on the container.

Recommended Reading: Can Parkinson’s Run In The Family

Symptoms Of Parkinsons Disease

Symptoms of the disease begin slowly and develop gradually over time. With the progression of the disease, people may start experiencing difficulties with movement and speech. Changes may also occur mentally and behaviourally, and people can also experience problems while sleeping, depression, memory loss, or extreme fatigue.

The primary symptoms include:

Shaking or trembling of different body parts
Muscle stiffness

Fluctuating blood pressure

The symptoms and the rate of progression differ among people, but the initial symptoms are subtle and occur gradually. These initial symptoms are sometimes overlooked as the effects of the normal ageing process. Due to the lack of a definitive medical test to identify the disease, diagnosis is tricky.

Patients with Parkinsons often develop a parkinsonian gait that includes:

Leaning forward
Reduced swinging of the arms
Trouble initiating or continuing movement

Initial symptoms often develop on one side of the body. As time progresses, it eventually affects both sides but the symptoms can be more drastic on one side.

How To Prevent Parkinsons

While its not yet known if there are surefire ways to prevent Parkinsons disease, there are a few things experts recommend.

For example, you might try incorporating physical activity into your routine and eating a healthy and balanced diet for a variety of health reasons. So far, research into nutritional supplements is lacking. However, if you have specific dietary needs, talk to your doctor to see if supplementation is appropriate.

Could CBD oil help? Its possible, but we dont know for sure yet. Some research, including , suggest that cannabidiol might help prevent Parkinsons disease. However, the studies are mostly animal studies and there is not yet a body of research involving humans and CBD.

Tricks To Sluggish Or Cease Development

Some counsel that you just could possibly delay a number of the results of Parkinsons illness by way of common bodily exercise. Ideally this would come with a mixture of train that features:

cardio exercise
stability coaching
purposeful actions

The NINDS has funded quite a lot of research to be taught extra in regards to the impression of train, together with whether or not train would possibly assist folks delay the necessity for medicine.

How Do I Remain Positive

How Wearables Can Combat Parkinsons Disease | Intel Business

Being diagnosed with Parkinsons disease is a life-changing event but it is still possible to maintain a good quality of life.

Getting used to having Parkinson’s may be frustrating at first you may have to take a shorter walk than normal, or play a shorter round of golf. But keeping an open mind and embracing a few lifestyle changes will help you to adapt better, for example, you may need to change the way you travel or spend leisure time, but ultimately all of these small changes will enable you to continue to lead a fulfilling and happy life.

There is no doubt that a positive outlook, along with determination to overcome obstacles, will help in adapting to life with Parkinsons and, given time and an optimistic attitude, you will be able to continue with the activities and relationships that make your life enjoyable and meaningful.

Remember, having Parkinsons does not mean everything is over.

Exercise Helps Prevent Fight Parkinson’s Disease From The Harvard Health Letter

Parkinson’s is a brain disease that affects the body and how it moves. Early symptoms include tremors, a shuffling gait, and an overall slowing of physical movement. Yet exercise may be one of the best and most underutilized ways of combating the condition, according to the March 2012 .

Several prospective studies that followed tens of thousands of people for many years have shown a correlation between exercise earlier in life and a reduced chance of developing Parkinson’s later on. Exercising in your 30s and 40s decades before Parkinson’s typically occurs may reduce the risk of getting Parkinson’s disease by about 30%, notes the Health Letter. Some experts believe the exercise must be vigorous to make a difference. However, because this kind of research can’t prove cause and effect, there is the possibility of “reverse causation”: that is, exercise may not prevent Parkinson’s disease, but instead a very early “preclinical” form of the disease, without clear symptoms, may make people less willing or able to exercise in the first place.

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Take Control Of Your Health

As more people live longer, the incidence of chronic conditions is increasing, including Parkinsons disease.

However, as in the case of other chronic conditions, evidence is building that keeping your body and mind healthy might prevent or slow down the progression of Parkinsons.

Exercise regularly, eat a healthy diet and manage your stress to maintain the best possible quality of life.

Also Check: What Is Dyskinesia In Parkinson’s Disease

Figuring Out Causes Of Fatigue

The first step in easing the fatigue associated with Parkinsons disease is to rule out other causes of tiredness, says Liana Rosenthal, M.D., assistant professor of neurology at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and director of clinical core at the Morris K. Udall Center Parkinsons Disease Research Center of Excellence. We evaluate patients to see if there are other things contributing to the fatigue besides their disease, she says.

Sometimes patients may be referred to a sleep specialist for an evaluation. That can help identify causes of tiredness, like sleep apnea. Rosenthal says: Our aim is to first treat any sleep issues, like insomnia, sleep apnea or other causes of poor sleep. Once we treat and address those issues, we can see if fatigue still persists.

Who Should I Turn To For Advice And How Do I Access Them

The multidisciplinary team is a group of specially-trained professionals which your doctor will bring together to treat each of your symptoms, including the emotional and psychological, as well as the physical. Your doctor should be your first point of contact to access these professionals, drawing upon their various skills to manage your condition as effectively as possible. The teams wide ranging expertise will enable them to advise on aspects of Parkinsons which specifically affect you.

There are also many organisations you can turn to. Your local Parkinsons organisation may also have information in your own language to help you see Our members and Other Parkinsons organisations contact details.

Who Will Keep Track Of My Progress Should I Keep A Diary To Monitor My Parkinsons

Your doctor will usually be your first point of contact. They will be able to help with making appointments with other members of the multidisciplinary team and will monitor your progress. They are also there to answer questions and follow up on any concerns you have regarding any aspect of your treatment.

Keeping a diary can be very helpful in monitoring how the symptoms of Parkinsons affect you and how you respond to your medications, including to adjustments that are made over time. A written record can be an accurate reflection of your life with Parkinsons over a period of weeks, months or years and can help in highlighting:

the pattern of symptoms you experience
the effectiveness of the medications you take and how long they last
any side effects of medications
any changes in your emotions or behaviour that may be related to medications.

Writing down your experiences on a day-to-day basis can also help you effectively communicate any changes to your symptoms or your feelings with your doctor. This can be very useful, particularly as appointments are often too short for doctors to ask lots of questions, and your visit may be on a day when your symptoms do not follow their general pattern. Being able to review how you have been over a period of time can help your doctor:

understand how effective medications are for you personally
pinpoint any particular difficulties or patterns of symptoms

Eat Fresh Raw Vegetables

If you needed more reasons to eat your vegetables, this should be the clincher. Studies show that increased amounts of the B vitamin folic acid, found primarily in vegetables, can significantly reduce the risk of Parkinsons.

The best sources of folic acid are simultaneously some of the healthiest foods on the planet, namely dark green vegetables like broccoli, spinach, collard greens, brussels sprouts, asparagus and okra all of which can be grown in your backyard! This B vitamin can also be found in avocado, legumes and lentils.

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Can I Use Complementary Or Alternative Treatments Instead Of Conventional Medicines

Complementary therapies are non-conventional health treatments, often based on ancient systems that people use alongside standard western medicine. The range of such therapies is wide, with the majority taking a holistic approach . It is this approach which makes complementary therapies so appealing to people with Parkinsons.

It is important to note that attitudes towards complementary therapies, levels of use, and which types are most popular, vary from country to country.

In general, doctors are more open to the idea of complementary medicine than they used to be, especially if it is integrated .

Few of the therapies used have undergone rigorous scientific research and even less are regulated through government legislation.

Many doctors still have reservations and do not recommend that you use such therapies instead of conventional medicine. If you are thinking about embarking on a course of complementary or alternative therapies, it is important to discuss this with your doctor before beginning the therapy.

How Is Parkinsons Disease Diagnosed

Patients use boxing to fight Parkinson’s disease

Diagnosing Parkinsons disease is sometimes difficult, since early symptoms can mimic other disorders and there are no specific blood or other laboratory tests to diagnose the disease. Imaging tests, such as CT or MRI scans, may be used to rule out other disorders that cause similar symptoms.

To diagnose Parkinsons disease, you will be asked about your medical history and family history of neurologic disorders as well as your current symptoms, medications and possible exposure to toxins. Your doctor will look for signs of tremor and muscle rigidity, watch you walk, check your posture and coordination and look for slowness of movement.

If you think you may have Parkinsons disease, you should probably see a neurologist, preferably a movement disorders-trained neurologist. The treatment decisions made early in the illness can affect the long-term success of the treatment.

How Often Will I Be Seen And Will I Need More Tests

It is hard to say how often you should be seen as this will depend on the nature of your symptoms, the rate of their progression and the services available where you live. If you are concerned about your symptoms, or if they are progressing quickly and you do not have a follow up appointment with another member of the multidisciplinary team for some time, speak with your doctor as they may be able to arrange an earlier appointment for you.

Your doctor will usually monitor the progression of your Parkinson’s by talking to you, observing your symptoms and by physical examination. You will not usually need to have tests, although in certain circumstances, particularly if your Parkinson’s appears to be worsening quickly, your doctor may decide to run blood or urine tests. Brain scans, such as a magnetic resonance imaging scan, are usually not necessary unless specific complications arise that do not respond to medication, for example severe freezing, balance problems or memory difficulties.

Caregiving For People Living With Parkinsons

Caring for a loved one with PD can be a challenging job, especially as the disease progresses. Former caregivers of a loved one with PD suggest doing the following : Get prepared, Take care of yourself, Get help , Work to maintain a good relationship with your loved one, and Encourage the person with PD for whom you care, to stay active.

Preparing for caregiving starts with education. Reading this fact sheet is a good start. More resources are available to you in theResources section of this fact sheet. Early Parkinsonâs disease usually requires more emotional support and less hands-on care. It is a good time for family members/caregivers to educate themselves about the disease.

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Naturalremedy For Parkinsons #7 Omega

Animal based omega-3 fatty acids are a powerful weapon inthe fight against Parkinsons disease. One of the main fatty acids, DHA, is oneof the essential building blocks for the human brain. Half of your brain andeyes are made up of fat and a large proportion of this is DHA fat.

Omega-3 fatty acids have the unique ability to cross theblood-brain barrier, something most conventional drugs cannot do. They helpincrease dopamine levels and reduce neuroinflammation in the brain, while atthe same time, stimulating neuron growth. So basically, EPA and DHA help preventbrain cell damage and keep the nervous system in tip top working order! 4

Best sources of animal based omega-3s are either fishoil, cod liver oil or krill oil. High strength krill oil is the preferred option as thiscontains a substance called Astaxanthin. Astaxanthin is a potent brain food nutrientthat has been shown to prevent neurodegeneration and inflammation of the brain.For dosages, take AT LEAST the highest recommended amount listed on the bottle the same goes with fish oil or cod liver oil. You cant overdose on thesesupplements so theres nothing to be concerned about. In fact, the more omega-3syou can get into you the better the results!

In addition to this, try and eat some cold water fattyfish such as salmon, tuna, mackerel, sardines or herring 3-4 times a week foran extra supply of DHA and EPA.

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