Parkinson’s disease is a disorder that affects the normal functioning of the brain. When someone suffers from the disorder the movement is not so fluid. They are susceptible to tremors and lack of co-ordination.
The disorder was named after Dr. J. Parkinson. His first encounter with the Parkinson’s disease was in 1817 in England. The disease is known to affect people who are over fifty years of age. It is a disorder that targets the nervous system. It can affect people of both sexes. It is very rare to see the disorder in children but there have been documented cases. Young adults also suffer from the nerve disorder. Most of the time when a younger person suffers from the disease, it is usually hereditary.
Nerve cells are able to command muscle movement with the aid of dopamine. Dopamine is a chemical that is found in the brain. When the cells that are in charge of production of dopamine are not functioning as they should, then a person suffers from Parkinson’s. The nerve cells in the brain are incapacitated since they are unable to send messages to the rest of the body. The result of this is poor muscle function. The disorder is degenerative; so it can only get worse with time. It is yet to be known why the brain cells stop functioning.
Children can suffer from Parkinson’s if their nerves are not that sensitive to dopamine. The disorder is a very rare occurrence in children. Parkinsonism is used to refer to all the conditions that affect muscle movement and body co-ordination. When you are diagnosed with Parkinsonism, it does not necessarily mean you have Parkinson’s. Other conditions and medications can results to the same symptoms as those suffered by someone with Parkinson’s.
The nerve disorder can affect either sides of the body. It is hard to determine the amount of muscle function that will be affected. In the initial stages, the symptoms are usually very subtle. You may experience mild tremors or stiff muscle movement.
Over the passing of time the symptoms become more obvious. You might find yourself having involuntary muscle movement. Other times, you will suffer from constipation. You will loose balance and so your walking will become impaired. Swallowing anything might become quite the challenge. Your facial expressions will just be blank. Other times, you will suffer from muscle aches. Your speech will be affected and your posture will get stooped.
Medical experts have not yet come across a cure for the condition. The only thing they can do for the Parkinson’s patients treat some of the symptoms. They do this by prescribing medication that will improve the amount of dopamine in a person’s brain cells. There are times when the medication will wear off from your body. In such instances, you will find yourself suffering from some of the mentioned symptoms.
If you notice the occurrence of the symptoms despite the consumption of medicine, make sure you inform your doctor. In such instances, the doctor will review your medication and take the appropriate action.
