The Sunday News
Lee-Anne Hall
Just to revise on last week’s issue.
PARKINSON’S disease is a degenerative neurological condition characterised by tremor, muscular rigidity, walking impairment. In the final stages patients may experience depression and dementia (forgetfulness).
Research says there is no cure for PD. In other words, there is no standard treatment, rather each person is treated according to the way their symptoms present. Parkinson’s disease is an incurable disease; however, medication can be administered to control the symptoms. Again, most of these patients work a lot with a rehabilitational team consisting of a physiotherapist, occupational therapist and many cases a dietician.
Pharmacotherapy
As discussed in last week’s issue. Most symptoms of PD are caused by a lack of dopamine in the brain. Therefore, most drugs administered for PD are aimed at either temporarily restoring dopamine or mimicking the action of dopamine.
These type of drugs help to reduce muscle rigidity, improve speed and co-ordination of movement and lessen the tremor. It is important to have your doctor run a few tests before administering this medication.
Exercise
As a physiotherapist and having worked with PD patients I would strongly recommend exercise. It goes without saying that exercise is an important part of healthy living for everyone. For people with PD, exercise is a vital component in maintaining balance, mobility and the ability to perform activities of daily living.
According to research, people with PD who exercise a minimum of two-and-a-half hours a week experience a slowed decline in quality of life. Thus, establishing early exercise habits is an essential part of overall disease management.
To manage the symptoms of PD, be sure your exercise programme includes a few key ingredients which are flexibility (stretching) exercises, aerobic activity and strengthening exercises.
Here are some exercises that contain the above- mentioned elements: biking, running, yoga, pilates, dance and weight training.
I would advice PD patients to try out the different exercises and stick to the ones they like.
Occupational therapy can help people with PD stay active in their daily life. By improving your skills, showing you different ways to complete tasks or introducing you to handy equipment, an occupational therapist can help you perform everyday activities with greater ease and satisfaction. An OT can also recommend making changes to your home or workplace to promote your independence.
Living with PD
1 Avoiding Falls: PD affects a person’s balance and co-ordination which can result in falls. Many times patients with PD sustain injuries and fractures due to these falls. Actually, just a small push or bump can completely throw off their balance.
Here are some tips to help avoid falls:
(i) Make a U-turn instead of pivoting your body over your feet
(ii) Avoid carrying things while you walk
(iii) Avoid walking backward
(iv) Distribute your weight evenly between both feet, and don’t lean
(v) Look in front and not directly down when you are walking
2 Healthy eating: As much as there are no exact foods that have been proven to help PD, some foods may help to ease the symptoms. For example, eating foods high in fibre and drinking an adequate amount of fluids can help prevent constipation that is common in PD. A balanced diet also provides nutrients, such as omega-3 fatty acids, that may be beneficial for people with PD.
3 Coping and support: It goes without saying that living with a chronic condition can cause anger, depression and a feeling of discouragement. PD can easily become frustrating, as walking, talking and even eating become more difficult and time-consuming. Depression is common in people with PD. People around such patients need to understand the disease very well and support them in forms of attending support groups with them. Again, you and your family can benefit from regular visits to the psychiatrist or psychology.
Parkinson’s disease is difficult to live with. It is even difficult for close friends and family to see someone they know and love deteriorate. But it’s very important to come together as a family, seek advice and understand how best to help your loved ones living with PD.
If you would like to know more please email me at [email protected] or visit my blog www.healthpromotionbyleeanne.wordpress.com or read articles posted by the World Health Organisation.
‘‘Take care of your busy body, you owe that to your family.’’
Lee-Anne Hall
BSc Physiotherapy
