The body's nervous system can be damaged by injury, infection, structural defects, degeneration, tumors and more, which can cause any number of neurological disorders. No one is immune, as nerve disorders can occur in people of all ages.
One of the many neurological disorders that people have is Parkinsons disease. Parkinsons is a disorder that affects the nervous system. The direct cause of it is still unknown but there are many factors scientists are studying. Some of these factors are:
- Genes
- Environmental triggers
- Age
- Heredity
- Sex
Researchers have even studied groups of individuals with Parkinsons and found that there is a presence of lewy bodies within the brain. What’s a lewy body? Lewy bodies are deposits of abnormal proteins called alpha-synuclein. Though these terms may seem vague and offputting, it is getting researchers closer to finding the root cause of Parkinson’s Disease.
So what are some complications of this disease?
Forming coherent thoughts
Some individuals may experience a form of dementia or thinking difficulties. This symptom usually occurs in the later stages of Parkinsons.
Mental illnesses
Like many other life-altering diagnoses, depression is one of the symptoms people experience. Having family members or friends present that understand your disease may help alleviate some of this feeling. Support is always important and can affect many things.
Issues with swallowing/ eating
Because this disease affects the nervous system, daily tasks like swallowing and eating can be affected. The muscles aren’t receiving the signal from the brain as quickly to pass food through your esophagus. This can also lead to more drooling and saliva accumulation.
Sleep disorders
Studies have shown that individuals with Parkinsons tend to have more trouble sleeping. This can include more frequent night wakings, harder time falling asleep at night, or even falling asleep during the day.
Incontinence
Our body is controlled by the firing of signals from one receptor to another. Essentially our body is speaking to itself to control a movement. When that “speaking” slows down or is shut down completely, the muscle has difficulty performing its task. With Parkinsons, there’s typically issues with incontinence, or not being able to control one’s urine.
Pain/Fatigue
Many people experience energy loss, or fatigue. Some even experience pain in either specific areas of their bodies or throughout the whole body. Researchers are still unsure why, but some don’t experience this symptom until later in the day.
Balance issues
Some individuals report dizziness or lightheadedness. This is due to the sudden drop in their blood pressure when they stand, also known as orthostatic hypotension. This definitely affects their balance and ability to stay upright.
So, what can be done for individuals with Parkinsons Disease?
Because there are still so many questions surrounding Parkinsons Disease, there is no “prevention” or cure. Along with other options such as medication to help with some of the side effects, physical therapy can help significantly improve the quality of life of individuals with Parkinsons Disease. Give us a call today to get started with a plan specifically tailored to your needs and symptoms. Our compassionate and highly trained physical therapists wants what’s best for you. Come in and start loving your life again!