Parkinson's disease: causes and treatment of the disease

Parkinson's disease becomes a difficult test both for the person himself and for those around him. The causes and treatment of the disease require special attention. After all, pathology can significantly change a person’s life. Symptoms, manifested in a violation of motor activity, are quite severe. In addition, ignoring the first signs of the disease can lead to very serious consequences. If the ailment is timely detected, and the patient is prescribed the right treatment, then for many years you can maintain domestic and professional activity.

Consider in detail what kind of ailment such as Parkinson’s disease, causes and treatment.

Disease Description

The first described pathology in 1817 was an English doctor, James Parkinson. He presented the disease to the world as "trembling paralysis." Since then, the pathology known today as Parkinson’s disease, causes, and treatment has been of great interest. The photos available in the review eloquently demonstrate how the ailment affects a person.

Modern scientists believe that the pathology is caused by the gradual death of neurons (nerve cells) that produce the dopamine mediator in the body. As a result of this process, there is a violation of muscle tone and regulation of movements. Visually, this is manifested by trembling, characteristic posture and movements, general stiffness.

According to statistics, the disease is diagnosed in approximately every hundredth person who has crossed a 60-year milestone. In men, Parkinson's disease is much more common than in the fair sex.

An insidious disease develops gradually. The first clinical signs of the disease in most cases go unnoticed. Friends or relatives pay attention to pathology, when a person has already developed slowness of movements, facial expressiveness has decreased, sleight of hand has decreased.

Causes of occurrence

Modern doctors have many knowledge of the molecular and biochemical mechanisms of the development of such an ailment as Parkinson's disease. Symptoms, treatment, causes of pathology continue to be studied today. And it should be said that scientists with full confidence cannot name the real sources of the development of the disease. There is only an assumption about what triggers Parkinson's disease.

The causes of the ailment are as follows:

1. Age-related changes.
2. Hereditary predisposition.
3. External environment. Exposure to heavy metals, adverse ecology, infectious diseases, toxic substances.

Sometimes parkinsonism can occur as a result of existing diseases in humans. Such an ailment in medicine is called secondary.

The causes of its occurrence can be hidden in the following pathologies or conditions:

1. Atherosclerosis of the arteries of the brain, which leads to encephalopathy or strokes.
2. The use of certain medications (for example, antipsychotics prescribed for schizophrenia).
3. Poisoning of the body with ethanol, carbon monoxide, manganese, industrial alcohol, cyanides.
4. Addiction (the use of ephedron, which includes potassium permanganate).
5. Encephalitis.
6. A brain tumor.
7. The patient has degenerative diseases.
8. TBI. Quite dangerous are often repeated head injuries in a mild form.

The development of the disease is based on the destruction of brain cells that synthesize the neurotransmitter dopamine. As a result, the brain loses the ability to transmit impulses to the muscles of the body. A clinic characterizing Parkinson's disease is developing. Symptoms and treatment of it are two of the most important issues that must be consulted with a doctor. Ignoring the former and improper selection of the latter can lead to grave consequences.

Characteristic symptoms

It is difficult enough to determine Parkinson's disease in the early stages. Symptoms and treatment of the disease are carefully studied by doctors. Doctors say that pathology develops slowly. Sometimes it is manifested by discomfort in the limbs, which is erroneously associated with diseases of the spine.

The main characteristic symptoms of parkinsonism are:

1. Tremor . This is a dynamic symptom. It may be associated with the patient’s movements or emotional state. Sometimes the symptomatology decreases if a person makes a conscious movement. But it is able to amplify during manipulations with the other hand or when walking. In some cases, these symptoms are completely absent. Tremor is usually observed in the leg, arm, individual fingers. The tongue, lips, lower jaw may be trembling. For pathology, tremor is characteristic, covering the thumb and forefinger. Visually, it resembles a “coin count”.
2. Bradykinesia This is a significant slowdown in motor activity. Such a clinic is the main sign of parkinsonism. Symptoms cover all muscle groups. Most of all, it is expressed on the face. A person rarely blinks his eyes. As a result, his gaze seems piercing, heavy. The patient's speech becomes muffled, monotonous. The swallowing reflex is broken, due to which salivation develops. Finger motility worsens. Patients have difficulty making normal movements, such as buttoning buttons.
3. Rigidity . Movement disorders are enhanced as a result of increased muscle tone. This leads to a characteristic gait and posture. In the patient, the head and trunk are slightly inclined forward, the upper limbs are brought to the body and bent at the elbows. Legs practically do not straighten at the knees. The patient’s position has a “requesting” character.
4. Postural instability. There is a violation of coordination of movements during walking. Man hardly maintains balance. Such a clinic characterizes the late stage of pathology. The gait becomes shuffling, mincing. As a result, the patient often falls. This symptom is extremely difficult to treat. That is why postural instability often puts the patient to bed.

Associated Clinic

Not only motor disorders characterize Parkinson’s disease, the causes and treatment of which are the subject of our review.

Quite often, the patient develops autonomic disorders:

1. Disruption of the digestive tract. An intestinal motility disorder provokes limited drinking, poor nutrition, and sometimes medication for parkinsonism.
2. Pressure reduction during sudden movements. The blood supply to the brain worsens, dizziness and fainting may occur.
3. Violation of urination: a difficult process or rapid.
4. Reduced sweating and increased greasy skin , especially in the forehead and nose. Dandruff often appears.

Often, patients are faced with mental disorders, such as:

1. Emotional distress. Patients have pessimism, irritability. They become insecure, avoid communication.
2. Cognitive impairment. Symptoms appear in the case of a severe course of the disease. Dementia develops in a person, cognitive activity, the ability to soberly reason, express one’s thoughts decreases.

In addition to the above symptoms, the following conditions often develop:

1. Difficult speech. The patient speaks quickly and slurredly.
2. Eating problems. The chewing and swallowing reflex is broken, salivation increases.
3. Sexual dysfunction.
4. Weakness, fatigue. Sometimes it is associated with insomnia, depression.
5. Muscle cramps . Lack of movement leads to cramps in the lower extremities.
6. Muscle pain.

Disease treatment

Unfortunately, she is incurable, Parkinson's disease. The causes and treatment will be explained in each case only by a doctor. All medications only relieve symptoms. Therapy is aimed at getting rid of motor disorders.

How to treat Parkinson's disease, the causes, treatment and prevention of which is a hot topic today to study?

At an early stage of the disease, the patient is recommended feasible physical activity and physiotherapy exercises. It is recommended to connect medications later, since long-term treatment with such drugs is addictive in the patient. As a result, you have to increase the dosage. Accordingly, side effects are amplified.

Drug therapy

For therapy, drugs are used:

• levodopa: "Madopar", "Sinemet", "Nakom";
• amantadine: “PC-Merz”, “Midantan”;
• monoamine oxidase inhibitors: "Selegelin", "Umex";
• dopamine receptor agonists: Parlodel, Mirapeks, Pronoran, Bromocriptine;
• anticholinergic drugs: Parkopan, Cyclodolum, Akineton.

Symptomatic treatment recommended:

1. For hallucinations, psychosis prescribed: "Exelon", "Reminyl", "Seroquel", "Azaleptin", "Leponex", "Clozapine."
2. To combat vegetative disorders, laxatives are recommended in case of constipation. To stimulate the motility of the gastrointestinal tract, the medication Motilium is prescribed. The appointment includes the antispasmodic Detrusitol, the antidepressant Amitriptyline.
3. For sleep disorders, pain, depression, anxiety, sedatives are recommended. Antidepressants are sometimes prescribed: Paxil, Tsipramil, Iksel.
4. To maintain memory, attention span, medications are recommended: Reminyl, Memantine-Akatinol, Exelon.

Physical exercise

Do not panic if Parkinson's disease is diagnosed. Symptoms and treatment of physical. exercises have a direct relationship with each other. If the patient is correctly selected effective gymnastics, then the quality of his life for a long time may remain at its best.

In this regard, it should be emphasized once again that it is possible to slow the progression of an ailment by an active lifestyle. However, physical labor or gymnastics should be feasible. Excessive load, on the contrary, will only contribute to the rapid development of pathology.

In Parkinson's disease, along with the exercise therapy complex prescribed by the doctor, the following exercises will benefit:

1. Fingering Connect large with each other in series.
2. Letter. Try to write more and strive to improve your handwriting.
3. Sewing, embroidery, knitting.

These activities improve motion clarity.

It is important to realize that gymnastics is essential for a sick person. This is quite obvious if we analyze everything that is known about such an insidious disease as Parkinson's disease (symptoms and treatment).

Disease prognosis

It is impossible to recover from the disease. The prognosis for life is determined by the attitude of a person to his health. If the patient ignores adequate treatment, then after 10 years, he becomes disabled or even dies.

Timely and proper therapy helps the patient maintain activity for a long time.

Folk recipes

There are many excellent tools to slow down the development of a pathology such as Parkinson's disease. The causes and treatment of folk remedies have no connection with each other, by and large, therefore, having decided to resort to this kind of therapy, be sure to discuss all the nuances with the doctor.

The following recipes are effective:

1. Take 0.5 tbsp. l sage. Brew grass 1 tbsp. boiling water. Through the night, insist in a thermos. Then carefully wring out the mixture and strain. Such a remedy should be consumed after meals, after one hour, 1 tsp. You can drink the broth with milk or jelly.
2. Useful alcohol tincture of the peony root. Such a remedy should be taken three times a day, before meals, 30-40 drops.

Preventative measures

Can you protect yourself from the appearance of a pathology such as Parkinson's disease?

The causes (and treatment at home including) should not be sought independently. This is the first step in the wrong direction. Trust a professional who will select the appropriate therapy based on the individual characteristics of the body.

Thus, prevention consists of the following activities:

1. Clear execution of all doctor's instructions.
2. Careful thinking over the organization of work and leisure in order to prevent possible problems.
3. Compliance with the recommended diet.
4. Leading an active lifestyle and gymnastics.

Important recommendation

In no case do not resort to self-medication. Even if you find a description of an effective technique that can fight Parkinson's disease, remember that the appointment of a doctor depends only on the symptoms that you have manifested.