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What Doctor Treats Parkinson’s Disease

Naturalremedy For Parkinsons #7 Omega

Doctors can treat Parkinson’s disease symptoms and slow its progression

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.

Speech And/or Occupational Therapist

Over time, patients with Parkinsons disease encounter problems with speaking and swallowing. A speech therapist can be helpful, using LSVT therapy.

This vigorous vocal exercise helps patients with Parkinsons recalibrate their voice tone and loudness, both of which can be diminished by Parkinsons.

An occupational therapist can also help you assess your home for safety. Occupational therapists can suggest assistive devices and train you in their use. This will help you remain independent and self-sufficient as long as possible.

Deep Brain Stimulation For Parkinson’s: Am I A Candidate

Deep brain stimulation is not a cure, but it can relieve your symptoms from Parkinson’s disease when medications are not an option. Only you and your doctor can decide if this surgical procedure is right for you. You may be a candidate for deep brain stimulation if:

  • You have idiopathic Parkinson’s disease. Patients with atypical parkinsonism are not candidates.
  • You have good motor function and independence during your best “on” state when taking the drug Sinemet.

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Some Other General Points

Stay as active as possible. Exercise regularly as much as you are able. This may not be possible when the condition is more advanced. However, it is something to consider when symptoms are not too bad. You may walk more slowly than before but a daily walk is good exercise and may help to loosen up stiff muscles. Well-meaning relatives or friends may tell you to rest and take things easy. However, as much as possible and for as long as possible, resist the temptation for others to do things for you just because it may be quicker.

Constipation is common in people with PD. Help to reduce the chance of this by having lots to drink and eat plenty of vegetables, fruit, and foods high in fibre. Exercise can also improve constipation. Sometimes laxatives may be needed to treat constipation.

Some medicines taken for other conditions can interfere with dopamine and make PD worse. These may be prescribed for such things as mental illness, sickness, vertigo and dizziness. Check with your doctor if you are unsure about any medicines that you take.

Driving. If you are a driver you should tell the DVLA and your insurance company if you develop PD. Your insurance may be invalid if you do not. Depending on the severity of symptoms and the medicines that you are taking, you may still be allowed to drive following a medical assessment.

Doctors Who Treat Parkinsons Disease

Diagnosis of Parkinsons Disease

Primary care physicians are often the first to see patients with symptoms of Parkinsons disease. Symptoms of Parkinsons disease mimic those of other conditions, and Parkinsons disease is widely misdiagnosed. Since early and expert intervention can ensure proper diagnosis and effective treatment, it is important to be evaluated at an advanced brain center as soon as possible.

The multidisciplinary team at the Weill Cornell Medicine Brain and Spine Centers Movement Disorders service expert neurosurgeons along with their team of physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, nurses, physical therapists, and pain management specialists provide comprehensive, integrated care for patients with Parkinsons disease and many other conditions of the brain. Patients receive a complete continuum of care, from diagnosis to treatment and recovery.

We generally begin with nonsurgical, non-invasive options to treat Parkinsons disease, usually managed by one of our expert movement disorders neurologists . For patients who do need surgery, we offer the latest in minimally invasive and non-invasive surgical techniques using state-of-the-art equipment. Patients respond faster, have less pain, and get back to their normal daily activities sooner than they could with older surgical methods.

At the Weill Cornell Medicine Brain and Spine Center, patients with Parkinsons disease may also be seen by:

  • Associate Professor of Clinical Neurological Surgery 718-780-5176

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How Does Brain Tune Up For Parkinsons Disease Work

Functional medicine is common sense. If you want to remove the symptoms, treat the cause. Thats exactly what Dr. Sharlin has set out to achieve with the Brain Tune Up! protocol for those living with PD. The program draws on three core systems:

  • Correctly identifying the problem.
  • The functional medicine timeline and matrix to explore the triggers and mediators responsible for the condition.
  • A personalized approach to sleep, movement, nutrition, stress, and relationships to identify where the gaps exist
  • Addressing environmental factors
  • Fixing imbalances in hormones and offering treatments that can help repair injured brain tissue
  • Functional medicine is about seeing the patient as a whole person and is based on a science-backed framework called systems biology. The practitioner uncovers the cause of disease by evaluating imbalances at the cellular level. The patient is then empowered to make meaningful changes in their lives.

    How Do Symptoms Progress And What Is The Outlook

    The symptoms of PD tend to become gradually worse over time. However, the speed of progression varies greatly from person to person. When symptoms first begin, you may not need treatment when symptoms are relatively mild.

    Most people with PD can expect to have some time of relatively mild symptoms. Then, when the symptoms become worse, they can expect several years of good or reasonable control of the symptoms with medication. But everyone is different and it is difficult to predict for an individual how quickly the disease will progress. Some people may only be slightly disabled 20 years after PD first begins, whereas others may be very disabled after 10 years.

    Research into PD is active. For example, one main aim of research is to find medicines that prevent the damage to the affected cells, rather than just treating the symptoms, which is the main value of treatment at present. Further research on these chemicals continues. Research is underway using stem cell therapy to help treat PD. Other researchers are looking at alpha synuclein, a protein that gathers around the junction between nerve cells and is thought to affect the way messages are conducted between the brain and the nerves controlling movement.

    Further reading and references

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    Bwh: Comprehensive Treatment For Patients With Parkinson’s Disease

    The Movement Disorder Program at BWH provides comprehensive evaluation and treatment for patients with movement disorders, including Parkinson’s disease, tremor, and dystonia . The Program’s team of physicians, nurses, and researchers is dedicated to advancing the understanding and treatment of Parkinson’s disease and related disorders. The Program is a collaboration between BWH and Massachusetts General Hospital working with the national Parkinson Study Group. In addition to Parkinson’s disease, the Program provides comprehensive care for patients with other movement disorders such as Tourette syndrome, tremor, and dystonia .

    Is It Normal To Feel Depressed

    Parkinson’s Disease Treatment Guide Books – Dr. Eric Ahlskog

    Yes! Researchers have found that 40 to 50 percent of people with Parkinsons are depressed. Other brain and mood symptoms include anxiety, sleep disturbances, and behavior changes. Getting a difficult diagnosis can make people feel sad or worried, but this kind of depression is more prolonged and more serious.

    Researchers believe that the underlying changes in the brain that cause PD might also cause depression. In fact, some people think that depression might be an early sign of Parkinsons. Medication, mental health counseling, and support groups can all effectively treat this kind of depression, so be sure to tell your doctor how you feel.

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    Taking Medicine With Food

    Early in the disease, it might be helpful to take pills with food to help with nausea, which may be caused by some of the medicines for Parkinson’s disease.

    Later in the disease, taking the medicines at least 1 hour before meals may help them work best.

    Some medicines for Parkinson’s disease don’t work as well if you take them at the same time you eat food with protein in it, such as meat or cheese. The protein can block the medicine and keep it from working as well as it should.

    Finding The Right Doctor

    Managing Parkinsons disease well can be challenging. Finding a doctor whos well-versed in PD and will help guide you on the journey makes it easier.

    Its natural to begin by discussing initial symptoms with your family doctor or internist, who may refer you to a general neurologist or one specialized in movement disorders to rule out Parkinsons.

    The Parkinsons Foundation recommends people diagnosed with PD seek out a movement disorders specialist one who can become a key player on your healthcare team. For people living far from an academic medical center or a specialist in private practice, we recommend a knowledgeable, nearby general neurologist for most of your care and then traveling a longer distance two to three times each year to see a specialist. Finding a specialist can seem like a daunting task, but it doesnt have to be. The Parkinsons Foundation can guide you step by step through the process of finding one.

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    What To Ask During The First Visit

    Prepare a list of questions to help you better understand the doctors expertise and your treatment options. You likely will not be able to discuss them all in one visit. You may have more specific questions once you have a treatment plan. Questions you may want to start with include:

    • How many people with Parkinsons do you treat?
    • Do I need other tests to confirm my PD diagnosis or rule out other disorders that may present similar symptoms?
    • What PD treatment options do you suggest?
    • How do my other health conditions and medications affect my PD and how I treat it?
    • Do you know of any clinical studies that might be right for me to take part in?
    • Are you aware of any new PD research and treatments?
    • Are there lifestyle changes that can improve my PD symptoms?
    • If you are not available for me to contact you between visits, who may I communicate with and how?
    • Should I get a second opinion? Do you have any suggestions of doctors for me to contact?

    Does Medical Marijuana Treat Parkinson Disease

    How is Parkinson

    Progressive research has revealed the antidepressant, neuroprotective, and antioxidative properties of medical marijuana. Because all these elements relate to Parkinsons, cannabis may help to suppress the symptoms of this disorder.

    Heres what research says:

  • In a study published in 2014, over 20 participants ailing from PD saw marginal improvements in pain, sleep, and tremors within half an hour of smoking cannabis.
  • In a similar 2010 research, experts found that cannabinoids- active marijuana compounds- have anti-inflammatory properties.
  • In another study published in 2019, marijuana was shown to weaken both nonmotor and motor symptoms of Parkinsons disease.
  • A European Journal of Internal Medicine study revealed that after six months of smoking medical marijuana, more than 18% of the participants had either discontinued or reduced their use of opioid-laced medications.
  • A 2004 study of 339 patients uncovered that cannabis alleviated Parkinsons symptoms in 46% of the participants. Most of them reported improvements in motor control and muscle rigidness.
  • As highlighted in these studies, there are specific ways that PD and marijuana may have helpful links. Heres how:

    Medical Marijuana For Parkinsons Disease 2

    More benefits of marijuana on Parkinsons disease include help with symptoms like nausea and sleep problems. Cannabis may also help people with Parkinson to manage pain as well as enjoy better movement.

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    How Is It Treated

    At this time, there is no cure for Parkinson’s disease. But there are several types of medicines that can control the symptoms and make the disease easier to live with.

    You may not even need treatment if your symptoms are mild. Your doctor may wait to prescribe medicines until your symptoms start to get in the way of your daily life. Your doctor will adjust your medicines as your symptoms get worse. You may need to take several medicines to get the best results.

    Levodopa is the best drug for controlling symptoms of Parkinson’s. But it can cause problems if you use it for a long time or at a high dose. So doctors sometimes use other medicines to treat people in the early stages of the disease.

    The decision to start taking medicine, and which medicine to take, will be different for each person. Your doctor will be able to help you make these choices.

    In some cases, a treatment called deep brain stimulation may also be used. For this treatment, a surgeon places wires in your 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.

    There are many things you can do at home that can help you stay as independent and healthy as possible. Eat healthy foods. Get the rest you need. Make wise use of your energy. Get some exercise every day. Physical therapy and occupational therapy can also help.

    Natural Remedies And Treatments For Parkinsons Finalnote

    So there you have our top 10 natural remedies andtreatments for reversing Parkinsons disease. We believe this is one of the most informative andthorough health articles on this disease youll find anywhere on the internet. Ifyou follow these 10 tips to-the-letter and continue to use them consistently,we guarantee that in 3-6 months time you will be truly astounded at themiraculous level of improvement youll see. In 12 months time you will scarcely recognize yourself! . But of course, you must stickwith them and follow through with each remedy every day if you want them towork. We sincerely hope you do.

    Good luck and best wishes.

    P.S. Because Parkinsons is closely linked to Alzheimers disease and actually goes under the dementia umbrella, we recommend you take the time to read our Powerful Natural Remedies for Dementia and Alzheimers article for a more complete and comprehensive understanding on the causes and treatments for these diseases. You can click on the link below to go there

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    Medications For People With Parkinsons Disease

    Symptoms of Parkinsons disease result from the progressive degeneration of nerve cells in the brain and other organs such as the gut, which produce a neurotransmitter called dopamine. This causes a deficiency in the availability of dopamine, which is necessary for smooth and controlled movements. Medication therapy focuses on maximising the availability of dopamine in the brain. Medication regimes are individually tailored to your specific need. Parkinsons medications fit into one of the following broad categories:

    • levodopa dopamine replacement therapy
    • dopamine agonists mimic the action of dopamine
    • COMT inhibitors used along with levodopa. This medication blocks an enzyme known as COMT to prevent levodopa breaking down in the intestine, allowing more of it to reach the brain
    • anticholinergics block the effect of another brain chemical to rebalance its levels with dopamine
    • amantadine has anticholinergic properties and improves dopamine transmission
    • MAO type B inhibitors prevent the metabolism of dopamine within the brain.

    Referral To A Specialist

    TREATING PARKINSON’S DISEASE – DR. MIKE ZOLOTNISKY – NJ SPINE AND WELLNESS

    If your GP suspects Parkinson’s disease, you’ll be referred to a specialist.

    This will usually be:

    • a neurologist, a specialist in conditions affecting the brain and nervous system
    • a geriatrician, a specialist in problems affecting elderly people

    The specialist will most likely ask you to perform a number of physical exercises so they can assess whether you have any problems with movement.

    A diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease is likely if you have at least 2 of the 3 following symptoms:

    • shaking or tremor in a part of your body that usually only occurs at rest
    • slowness of movement
    • muscle stiffness

    If your symptoms improve after taking a medication called levodopa, it’s more likely you have Parkinson’s disease.

    Special brain scans, such as a single photon emission computed tomography scan, may also be carried out in some cases to try to rule out other causes of your symptoms.

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    Classification Of Parkinsons Disease

    The term Parkinsonism is used for a motor syndrome whose main symptoms are tremor at rest, stiffness, slowing of movement and postural instability.

    Parkinsonian syndromes can be divided into four subtypes according to their origin

  • Primary or Idiopathic Parkinsons disease is the most common form of parkinsonism and is usually defined as primary parkinsonism, meaning parkinsonism with no external identifiable cause
  • Secondary or acquired when it occurs as the result of an identifiable cause. For example, certain medicines, brain tumors, strokes, infections , and toxins can cause secondary Parkinsonism.
  • Hereditary parkinsonism
  • Parkinson plus syndromes or multiple system degeneration -Parkinson plus diseases are primary Parkinsonisms which present additional features. They include multiple system atrophy, progressive supranuclear palsy, corticobasal degeneration anddementia with Lewy bodies.
  • Stages of Parkinsons Disease

    According to severity of the disease divided in 5 stages:-

    Stage 1 It is the mildest form of Parkinsons. At this level, there may be unusual symptoms, but theyre not severe enough to interfere with daily tasks and overall lifestyle. In fact, the signs of the disorder are so minimal at this stage that theyre often missed. Tremors and other difficulties in movement are generally exclusive to one side of the body during stage 1

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