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MediFocus Guides Help Answer Key Questions about Parkinson's Disease:
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What are the standard treatments for Parkinson's Disease?
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What are your treatment options?
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Are there any promising new and effective treatments on the horizon?
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Where can you find the doctors, hospitals, and medical centers with specialized interest and expertise in Parkinson's Disease?
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Which organizations and support groups can help you cope more effectively with Parkinson's Disease?
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Medifocus Guidebook:
Parkinson's Disease
Updated: July 14, 2008
145 Pages
- Comprehensive overview of
Parkinson's Disease
- Explore your treatment options
- Learn about new developments
- Read medical journal abstracts
- Find doctors, hospitals, research centers
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Introduction
Parkinson's Disease is a slowly progressive disorder of the central nervous system that affects movement, muscle control and balance. Although the exact cause of Parkinson's Disease is unknown, research has concentrated on genetics, environmental toxins, endogenous toxins and viral infection.
In Parkinson's, cells are destroyed in part of the brain stem - the substantia nigra, which sends out fibers to the corpus stratia, gray and white bands of tissue in both sides of the brain. Cells there release dopamine, one of three major neurotransmitters (chemical messengers) which help the body respond to stress. By the time symptoms develop, patients have lost 80 to 90 percent of their dopamine-producing cells.
Symptoms include tremors, slowed movement and postural instability. Other features include rigidity, flexed posture, freezing phenomenon and loss of postural reflexes. Patients can experience depression, sleep disturbances, dizziness and problems with speech, swallowing and sexual functioning.
Since medications and other conditions can cause Parkinson's-like neurologic symptoms, diagnosis is critical and misdiagnosis is frequent. Medical science lacks an accurate blood or imaging diagnostic test for Parkinson's, though tests can exclude other conditions. Diagnosis is based on an evaluation of symptoms best accomplished by a Parkinson's specialist.
The progression of the disease varies from individual to individual, so treatment is also individualized. Treatment focuses on relieving disabilities while minimizing side effects of medications. While there is no cure, therapies can minimize symptoms and maximize function and quality of life.
The usual treatment is a combination of levodopa and carbidopa (Sinemet). Levodopa, which treats neurochemical abnormality, revolutionized treatment. However, over the years, its effectiveness can decline and its side effects, such as motor complications, can increase. Adjusted dosage can help but additional medications may be required. Because of levodopa's complexities, young people with Parkinson's often start with other treatments, reserving levodopa for later in the disease. Patients have other treatment options, including surgery. Transcranial magnetic stimulation is also being studied.
Parkinson's can impair quality and length of life, so its diagnosis and symptoms can devastate an individual and family, and patients often face depression. However, excellent physical therapies, and educational and support resources are available. Research is steadily improving quality of life and symptom control.
The MediFocus Guidebook on Parkinson's Disease contains information that is vital to anyone who has been diagnosed with this condition.
You will learn about the causes, risk factors, common signs and symptoms, medical tests that are used to establish the diagnosis, and standard treatments. You will also learn about the latest clinical advances in the management of Parkinson's Disease as well as about the newest treatment options that are available.
The MediFocus Guidebook on Parkinson's Disease will also inform you about important new, exciting research in the area of Parkinson's Disease. You will also learn about the doctors, hospitals, and medical centers that are at the leading edge in conducting clinical research about Parkinson's Disease.
Information about clinical trials, quality of life issues, a list of questions to ask your doctor, and a useful directory of organizations and support groups that can help patients with Parkinson's Disease complete this valuable Guidebook.
You won't find this combination of information anywhere else. It is easily accessible right here. We invite you to preview the MediFocus Guidebook on Parkinson's Disease so that you can decide if this comprehensive, trustworthy information may help you or someone you care about who has been diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease.
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