Dealing With Parkinson's Disease: A Guide For Patients And Families
Lifestyle And Home Treatments
Doctors will help patients find an appropriate treatment plan, often involving medication, that helps relieve symptoms with the fewest side effects. However, living with Parkinson's disease can be made quite a bit easier with specific lifestyle changes. A healthy, balanced diet high in fiber and fluids can help relieve symptoms such as constipation. Omega-3 fatty acids may also beneficial for Parkinson's disease patients. Exercising will help reduce emotional disturbances, such as depression and anxiety, and help improve balance.
Daily living activities can be difficult for individuals dealing with Parkinson's disease. Thus, they should see an occupational therapist who can teach them techniques to help make life easier. Lifestyle changes, furthermore, are also something family members can also join in on with no worries as to side effects. However, they must follow the recommended guidelines from doctors as well. This kind of participation can provide invaluable support to the Parkinson's disease patient.
Medical Treatment Methods
Once an individual with Parkinson's disease begins to experience minor symptoms, treatment with medication is typically necessary. The most common medication prescribed in the first stages of Parkinson's disease is levodopa, which helps replace depleted dopamine in the brain. Studies conducted on the quality of life of Parkinson's disease patients have shown drug therapy with dopaminergic medications helps prevent falls, improves the patient's sense of well-being, and improves their daily function.
As symptoms of Parkinson's disease progress, more medications are usually added to the treatment regimen. A common characteristic seen in drug treatment for Parkinson's disease is a process referred to as wearing off. Wearing off describes how the frequency of medication administration must be increased as the patient's Parkinson's disease worsens. Another medical treatment that may be used to treat Parkinson's disease is deep brain stimulation through the use of an implantable pacemaker-like medical device.
