Parkinson’s Disease Treatment – Is There a Cure? Know the Most Effective Remedies
If you have been wondering whether Parkinson’s disease treatment is fruitful, you have to know that while there is no complete cure for this most commonly occurring brain disorder, you can definitely alleviate the symptoms if you go through a proper self-care and prescribed medication.
At What Age Does This Disease Attack?
While the probability of this disease is increasing with the increase in age, people who cross the age of 60 years are more susceptible to this disease and men are usually more likely to get affected than women.
Much to our surprise, people who suffer from severe anxiety and depression are more likely to develop Parkinson’s disease which is why it is much essential for you to take proper care of your mental health to avoid the attack Parkinson’s disease.
What Is Parkinson’s Disease?
Parkinson’s disease affects the nervous system, more particularly an area called substantia nigra because of which the affected person’s physical and mental activity slows down and he or she may experience tremors, muscle stiffness, difficulty in balancing, and loss of control over the body movements which can be brought under control by opting for a Parkinson’s disease treatment and certain home remedies for Parkinson’s disease.
Still wondering what is Substantia nigra? Here is a clear explanation of what compels you to get addicted to certain activities so that you get to know what is substantia nigra. To understand this, you need to understand what makes you feel good about yourself?
Why Do People Get Addicted To Drugs And Alcohol?
One single inhalation is all you need to get addicted to various types of drugs. Understanding people who get addicted to drugs and alcohol requires patience and empathy. It is sad to know that most of the children who haven’t yet reached their teenage are getting supplied with a heavy dosage of drugs that ruins their only life and it could be easy for you to sit in your place and judge about the adults who get addicted to drugs, but you must understand that once they get high, everything goes out of control.
But what is the actually triggering them to get addicted to drugs?
Dopamine – A Chemical That Is Responsible For All Your Emotional Pleasures
Dopamine is a chemical substance that helps in transmitting the information from one neuron to another thereby helping in a proper muscular coordination. Dopamine is usually released in various parts of your brain, but the concentration of this neurotransmitter is high in a region called substantia nigra which is an area of your midbrain because the cells present in the area release more levels of dopamine.
More is the dopamine’s release occurring in your brain; more will be the pleasure you feel. When you perform certain activities like inhaling drugs or drinking alcohol, this chemical gets released in rather excess amounts making you feel like wanting more and more which ultimately leads to addiction.
How Is Dopamine Related To Parkinson’s Disease?
When a person is attacked by Parkinson’s disease, the dopamine cells released in the substantia nigra of his\her brain slowly begin to die.
But, since dopamine helps in controlling voluntary movement, controlling brain reward system and regulating sleep-wake cycle, the person may feel difficulty in walking and experience the following other symptoms when attacked with Parkinson’s disease.
Parkinson’s Disease Symptoms
Although Parkinson’s disease treatment does not help in curing the disease completely, it can help in reducing the intensity of the following Parkinson’s disease symptoms that are severe and dangerous!
1) Tremors in arms and legs
2) Inability to move the body freely and difficulty in muscular coordination
3) Muscle stiffness and inability to balance
4) Sleep disorders like insomnia; feeling sleepy and restless in the morning
5) Trembling
6) Dropping the saliva uncontrollably
7) A state of mental confusion or dilemma
8) Fatigue and dizziness
9) Sadness and depression
10) Stiff neck
11) Weight loss
12) Inability to concentrate
13) Loss of smell
14) Constipation
15) Inability to write which results in a small handwriting
What Causes Parkinson’s Disease?
Whatever might be the cause, Parkinson disease cannot occur in children or teenagers. The risk is high for most of the adults who have crossed 60 years of age. The causes can either show the impact directly or they can have a combined impact on the human health.
Parkinson’s Disease Is Idiopathic
The term idiopathic refers to a disease or an illness that occurs without any substantial cause. Most of the people undergoing Parkinson’s disease treatment are anonymous about their cause. Doctors claim that the disease can occur spontaneously devoid of any particular cause because the probability of the occurrence of this disease through genetic factors and other environmental factors is very low.
Is Parkinson’s Disease Hereditary?
If your parents or grandparents have suffered from this disease, or if the disease runs anywhere in your family, it can be passed on to the offspring. However, the risk of the attack through hereditary factors is very low. Only ten per cent of people who are suffering from Parkinson’s disease has acquired the disease through genes.
Exposure To Certain Chemicals (Also Herbicides And Pesticides)
If you have to work in certain industrial or factory areas where you may get exposed to the high reactivity of chemicals, or if you are exposed to increased amounts of herbicides and pesticides, chances are that your dopamine-producing cells can get depleted slowly which can increase the risk of Parkinson’s disease.
A Severe Head Injury
Traumatic brain injury may occur because of a sudden car accident or because of a sudden blow to the head. This may result in the damage of brain cells which may eventually lead to Parkinson’s disease. However, not all traumatic brain injuries result in this disease, but if the substantia nigra of the person is damaged, he or she might develop the disease, the symptoms of which can be reduced with the help of Parkinson’s disease treatment.
Ageing
The functioning capacity of the human body decreases with the increase in the age. You could have witnessed your grandparents being prone to memory loss or dementia. The major reason for this is the decreased working capacity of the brain cells.
This very factor called ageing is also responsible for the damage of the dopamine-producing cells which is why reports show that most of the older people diagnosed with this disease undergoing Parkinson’s disease treatment and men are more particularly at a greater risk of being attacked with this disease rather than women.
Parkinson’s Disease Stages
The Parkinson’s disease symptoms worsen as the stage of the disease keeps on increasing. The disease can be categorised into five different stages which entail the following symptoms and characteristics.
Here is all about the Parkinson’s disease stages:
Stage One – This is the initial stage during which you can observe a change in the walking movement of the patient and a slight change in the facial expressions, but the symptoms can be observed on only one side of the body.
Stage Two – In stage two, the symptoms can be evidently observed on the other side of the body. Tremors in the arms and legs can be seen in ‘stage 2’ of Parkinson’s disease and the person may still perform his daily tasks but with a much difficulty.
Stage Three – The symptoms can aggravate at this stage along with some additional symptoms like loss of balance, rigidity in muscles which we can observe in the slow movement and stiff body postures of the person.
Stage Four – By this time, the patient can observe all the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease and he/she may not be able to stand up and walk normally. The patient requires support to stand straight and perform his daily activities and the patient may completely fail in accomplishing his daily tasks.
Stage Five – This is the final stage in which the body’s muscles and nerves experience a complete stiffness. The patient is completely bedridden and may experience complete involuntary movements.
Home Remedies For The Effects Of Parkinson’s Disease
Since a complete Parkinson’s disease cure is not possible, people undergoing Parkinson’s disease treatment can opt for the medication prescribed by the doctor and at the same time follow some natural remedies for Parkinson disease to reduce the intensity of the symptoms.
Include The Intake Of These Foods And Follow These Simple Tips
If you have your parents or grandparents who are undergoing Parkinson’s disease treatment you can help them in getting rid of all the symptoms and help them get back to their normal life by suggesting them the following natural remedies for Parkinson disease.
Include Foods That Are Rich In Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Omega-3 fatty acids help in increasing the dopamine levels in the body which is very much essential for the patients who are undergoing Parkinson’s disease treatment. More is the increase in the dopamine levels, lesser will be the intensity of the symptoms.
Foods Rich In Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Fish liver oil
Flax seeds
Cod liver oil
Mackerel
Salmon
Canola oil
Sardines
Soybeans
Caviar
Foods Rich In Fibre
Since constipation is one of the symptoms that the people undergoing Parkinson’s disease treatment face, including those foods that are rich in fiber, can help in easy digestion and relieve you from constipation. You can include the following fiber-rich foods in your diet.
Avocados
Peas
Legumes
Beans
Almonds
Whole grains
Kidney beans
Lentils
Brussel sprouts
Pulses
Cereals
Chickpeas
Quinoa
Guava
Bananas
Oranges
Peaches
Papaya
Figs
Artichokes
Meat Products Which Are Completely Unprocessed
Processed meat refers to the kind of meat that has undergone repeated salting and smoking which is just performed to preserve the essence and flavour. All the essential nutrients and proteins are lost because of this method which is why only fresh meat is recommended for obtaining healthy proteins.
Meat Products That Are Healthy
Pork
Buffalo
Roast beef
Chicken
Turkey
Ostrich
Lamb
Veal
Meat Products That Should Be Avoided
Corned beef
Ham
Salami
Bacon
Hot dogs
Chicken nuggets
Duck
Cut Down On Dairy Products
You should totally cut down on all the dairy products as the calcium content present in the dairy products intensifies the symptoms making the problem worse. You can avoid the following dairy products
Milk (low fat or skimmed milk)
Cheese
Yoghurt
Butter
Sour cream
Include All Kinds Of Fresh Fruits In Your Diet
The best and easy way to obtain all kinds of vitamins and minerals and stay hydrated at the same time is to include lots of fruits in your regular diet. You can consider eating fruits a few hours before your lunch for much better results.
- Waterme
- lons
- Oranges
- Kiwis
- Grapes
- Apples
- Blueberries
- Avocados
- Bananas
- Strawberries
- Cranberries
- Apricots
- Bell peppers
- Plums
Apart from including the following foods in your regular diet, you can indulge yourself in certain activities so that you provide a relaxation to your stiff and rigid muscles. Physical activity is very much essential to ease your muscles but you must not be vigorous but be gentle with your activities.
Indulge Yourself In The Following Activities As A Part Of Parkinson’s Disease Treatment
A Daily Walk
If you cannot afford for a workout, you can at least afford for a daily walk, anytime in a day. However, working out is not much recommended for patients undergoing Parkinson’s disease treatment as the muscles and nerves should be treated carefully without any rigid movement.
You can have a stroll around your nearby park to relax and have the best time. A regular morning, as well as an evening walk, can show a tremendous effect on your physical movement. It helps in relieving you from the stiffness and brings more flexibility to your body.
Some Simple Stretches
Simple stretches are recommended for people undergoing Parkinson’s disease treatment as this is going to bring flexibility in the body and improve your movement day after day. The stretches mentioned are very elementary and are very effective in the reducing the effects of Parkinson’s disease.
Wall Stretch
You can practice this at any time in your home. Stay about 2 feet away from the wall. Place both hands on the wall and lean forward. Bend your knee forward and stay in the position for twenty seconds. Shift the leg and repeat the same.
Quad Stretch
Stand erect with both the hands placed on either side of your body. Lift one of your legs and try to grab the foot of your leg with the respective side of your hand. Hold for 30 seconds and remain in the position. Relax and repeat the same with another leg.
Leg Stretch
To practice this, you just need to lie down on the floor with both your hands placed parallel to your body. Bend your knee and bring it closer towards your chest. Slightly press the knee against your chest and remain in the position for a few minutes. Relax and practice the same with the other leg
Standing Cow Face Pose
This pose helps in bringing a great flexibility to your shoulders. You just have to stand straight and relax your arms and legs. Raise your right hand, bend your elbow and place the palm of your right hand on your back.
Use your left hand to grab the fingers of the right hand by stretching it from behind your back. Do not force much to grab the fingers of your right hand. You can just give your maximum try and relax.
Practice the same with the alternate hand.
Gardening
If you love cultivating plants, you can try growing different kinds of plants in the outdoor space of your house. In the process of growing new varieties, you will be able to feel happy which will increase the dopamine levels and at the same time involve yourself in some of the other physical activity.
Stay Away From Farming Practices
The percentage of people undergoing Parkinson’s disease treatment is high in rural areas as they are exposed to a wide range of pesticides and herbicides. Further exposure to these type of chemicals can aggravate the condition which is why people looking out for Parkinson’s disease cure are asked to stay away from farming practices.
Prevention Of Parkinson’s Disease
1) Make sure that you stay away from being exposed to pesticides and herbicides
2) Consume the foods that are rich in omega-3 fatty acids (mentioned in the article above) as they increase the levels of dopamine
3) Ensure that you indulge yourself in some physical activities in order to maintain healthy muscles and nerves.
4) Always try to keep your brain cells active and happy as depression and anxiety can also increase the risk of Parkinson’s disease.
5) Quit smoking and alcohol as a part of prevention of Parkinson’s disease.
6) If you had previously experienced a strong blow in your head, keep making frequent visits to your doctor to keep a check on the proper functioning of your brain cells.
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