This disease is a disease of the nervous system. Many of the symptoms are subtle at the outset. The most common symptom is a slight shaking of the hands. As the disease progresses, a person may have a difficult time speaking. His speech may become slurred, soft, and monotone. Sometimes, a person may hesitate before speaking.
When a person has had the disease for some time, his posture may become stooped. Balance can be significantly affected. Walking will become a shuffle. Doing small motor-muscle activities such as buttoning buttons and zipping zippers will become difficult. In the later stages of the disease, some people will develop dementia.
There isn’t any cure for Parkinson’s disease. However, there are medicines that can help relieve and lesson some of the symptoms. Medication can lesson the effects of tremors in the hand, improve the ability to walk, and improve the use of small motor-muscle skills.
Exercise and physical therapy can help to improve muscle tone, mobility, and range of motion. It can also improve balance and walking gait.
There are some things that you can do that will help make living with the disease easier. Constipation is one of the common problems with people who have Parkinson’s. Eating a well-balanced diet with plenty of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains reduce constipation problems. Drinking 6-8 glasses of water every day will also help. Be careful if you take a fiber supplement so that it doesn’t make your constipation worse. Gradually add it to your diet.
Because Parkinson’s affects your sense of balance, do not move too quickly. Consider using a cane to help you keep your balance. Don’t carry things as you walk.
One of the most frustrating things for people with Parkinson’s is losing the ability to easily dress themselves. Consider wearing clothes that are easy to put on such as sweat pants or pants with an elastic waistband and blouses or shirts with Velcro instead of buttons.
People with Parkinson’s can get discouraged at time because their walking, talking, and dressing abilities is so impaired. They can get angry and depressed. Talk to your doctor for information about support groups in your community.