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Can You Live With Parkinson’s

What Is The Prognosis And Life Expectancy For Parkinson’s Disease

How to Live Well with Parkinson’s for the Newly Diagnosed

The severity of Parkinson’s disease symptoms and signs vary greatly from person to peson, and it is not possible to predict how quickly the disease will progress. Parkinson’s disease itself is not a fatal disease, and the average life expectancy is similar to that of people without the disease. Secondary complications, such as pneumonia, falling-related injuries, and choking can lead to death. Many treatment options can reduce some of the symptoms and prolong the quality of life.

What Medications Are Used To Treat Parkinsons Disease

Medications are the main treatment method for patients with Parkinsons disease. Your doctor will work closely with you to develop a treatment plan best suited for you based on the severity of your disease at the time of diagnosis, side effects of the drug class and success or failure of symptom control of the medications you try.

Medications combat Parkinsons disease by:

  • Helping nerve cells in the brain make dopamine.
  • Mimicking the effects of dopamine in the brain.
  • Blocking an enzyme that breaks down dopamine in the brain.
  • Reducing some specific symptoms of Parkinsons disease.

Levodopa: Levodopa is a main treatment for the slowness of movement, tremor, and stiffness symptoms of Parkinsons disease. Nerve cells use levodopa to make dopamine, which replenishes the low amount found in the brain of persons with Parkinsons disease. Levodopa is usually taken with carbidopa to allow more levodopa to reach the brain and to prevent or reduce the nausea and vomiting, low blood pressure and other side effects of levodopa. Sinemet® is available in an immediate release formula and a long-acting, controlled release formula. Rytary® is a newer version of levodopa/carbidopa that is a longer-acting capsule. The newest addition is Inbrija®, which is inhaled levodopa. It is used by people already taking regular carbidopa/levodopa for when they have off episodes .

Coping With The Symptoms Of Parkinsons Disease

In addition to medication, there are steps you can take to help manage the symptoms. For example, there are several techniques you can learn that can be useful in overcoming freezing, a sudden, but temporary, inability to move. If you experience changes to your voice, there are voice exercises that can help.

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Complementary Therapies May Enhance Quality Of Life

The purpose of complementary therapies is to boost overall quality of life for seniors with Parkinsons disease by supplementing basic medical care. Therapies that have the potential to enhance quality of daily life for seniors with Parkinsons disease typically include: Speech and language therapy to enhance communication and help with swallowing difficulties Physical therapy to maintain limb function and increase coordination and balance Occupational therapy to provide ways to make daily living tasks easierSome seniors with PD also benefit from forms of therapy that help them relax, work on their fine motor skills, and take their minds off their condition. This might involve art and music therapy or even pet therapy.

If your elderly loved one needs help maintaining a high quality of life while aging in place, reach out to Home Care Assistance, a trusted provider of senior care.Our caregivers provide transportation to and from medical appointments and social events, nutritious meal preparation, assistance with daily exercise, and help with everyday tasks like bathing, grooming, and light housekeeping.

What Are The Symptoms Of Parkinsons Disease

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Symptoms of Parkinsons disease and the rate of decline vary widely from person to person. The most common symptoms include:

Other symptoms include:

  • Speech/vocal changes: Speech may be quick, become slurred or be soft in tone. You may hesitate before speaking. The pitch of your voice may become unchanged .
  • Handwriting changes: You handwriting may become smaller and more difficult to read.
  • Depression and anxiety.
  • Sleeping disturbances including disrupted sleep, acting out your dreams, and restless leg syndrome.
  • Pain, lack of interest , fatigue, change in weight, vision changes.
  • Low blood pressure.

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How Is Parkinsons Dementia Different From Alzheimers Disease

The advanced cognitive changes that impact daily living in Alzheimers and Parkinsons disease are both types of dementia.

Parkinsons disease dementia can occur as Parkinsons advances, after several years of motor symptoms. Dementia with Lewy Bodies is diagnosed when cognitive decline happens first, or when Parkinsons motor symptoms and cognitive decline occur and progress closely together. Cognitive impairments in PDD, combined with the movement symptoms of the disease, produce a greater impact on social and occupational functioning than Alzheimers.

Alzheimers, a fatal brain disease, causes declines in memory, thinking and reasoning skills. Physicians can diagnose Alzheimers. Visit the Alzheimers Association to learn the 10 signs Alzheimers disease.

Fortunately for people with PD, Parkinsons disease dementia is less disabling than Alzheimers disease. People with Alzheimers have language difficulties earlier than people with Parkinsons, and no new memories are formed. People with PD also have more ability to compensate and adjust based on cues.

What Are Pd Dementia Safety Concerns

Safety issues should be considered and monitored from the time of diagnosis. As PDD progresses, ensure that your loved one is not left alone.

  • Evaluate driving privileges before safety is a concern. Your doctor can make a driving evaluation referral.
  • Work out legal and financial issues and safeguard finances. People with dementia are at greater risk of falling victim to scams and fraud.
  • Minimize prescription risks. Confirm with the doctor the medication names and doses of the person with PD. If the person is in dementias early stages and capable, fill up their weekly pill box together and monitor use.
  • Medical alert systems can be critical in case your loved one falls or wanders outside of the home. Many types of systems are available, from bracelets and pendants to smart watches with fall detection and one-button connections to 911.
  • Evaluate gun safety. If your loved one owns a firearm or has one in the home, consider speaking with their doctor about the subject and taking appropriate safety precautions.

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What Is The Treatment For Parkinson’s Disease

There is currently no treatment to cure Parkinson’s disease. Several therapies are available to delay the onset of motor symptoms and to ameliorate motor symptoms. All of these therapies are designed to increase the amount of dopamine in the brain either by replacing dopamine, mimicking dopamine, or prolonging the effect of dopamine by inhibiting its breakdown. Studies have shown that early therapy in the non-motor stage can delay the onset of motor symptoms, thereby extending quality of life.

The most effective therapy for Parkinson’s disease is levodopa , which is converted to dopamine in the brain. However, because long-term treatment with levodopa can lead to unpleasant side effects , its use is often delayed until motor impairment is more severe. Levodopa is frequently prescribed together with carbidopa , which prevents levodopa from being broken down before it reaches the brain. Co-treatment with carbidopa allows for a lower levodopa dose, thereby reducing side effects.

In earlier stages of Parkinson’s disease, substances that mimic the action of dopamine , and substances that reduce the breakdown of dopamine inhibitors) can be very efficacious in relieving motor symptoms. Unpleasant side effects of these preparations are quite common, including swelling caused by fluid accumulation in body tissues, drowsiness, constipation, dizziness, hallucinations, and nausea.

Do People Die From Parkinson’s

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PD does not directly kill patients people with PD die from other causes, not from PD itself. Two major causes of death for those with PD are falls and pneumonia.

People with PD are at higher risk of falling, and serious falls that require surgery carry the risk of infection, adverse events with medication and anesthesia, heart failure, and blood clots from immobility.3

Pneumonia is a common cause of death, and those with PD are at risk for aspiration pneumonia.3 People with PD often have problems with swallowing, so the risk of aspirating food or drink, or having food or drink going down the wrong pipe is higher. In PD, the person may not be able to cough up the food or drink they aspirated, and it can remain in the lungs, eventually causing an infection.3 Even with general pneumonia, when coughing is weakened, as in PD, the mucus and other material that needs to be coughed up isnt able to be expelled, and this makes effective treatment of pneumonia more difficult in those with PD.

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If Youre Caring For Someone With Parkinsons

When someone you love is diagnosed with Parkinsonâs, everything changes. Some things change quickly, others things slowly. Be prepared to adapt at every stage, be patient, and pace yourself. If youâre the primary caregiver, you have two equally important responsibilitiesâto care for your loved one and for yourself.

Table : Examining The Evidence

This technique involves examining the facts that support and do not support your negative thoughts. Use the evidence that is gathered to come up with a more balanced thought, as appropriate.

  • Situation: Freezing in the bathroom
  • Automatic Thought: Im helpless
  • Evidence For: I was alone in the bathroom in the middle of the night and was unable to move
  • Evidence Against: This happens quite a bit, so I planned for it. I had my cell phone in my pocket. I called my wife on the house phone, and she helped me back to bed
  • Rational Response: Even though I was physically unable to move my feet, I was able to help myself out of the situation. I am not helpless

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Take Care Of Yourself

Probably one of the most important, and sometimes difficult, things caregivers can do is to take care of themselves. This includes maintaining mental and physical health by making and keeping your own medical and dental appointments. As a caregiver, it is important to keep your job whenever possible as it provides not only financial help and possibly insurance coverage, but also a sense of self-esteem. Join a support group for caregivers if possible. Support groups help you meet people who are going through what you are going though, vent frustrations, give and receive mutual support, and exchange resource information and coping strategies. Whenever possible get your sleep, take breaks, make and keep social activities, and try to keep your sense of humor.

What Are The Symptoms Of End

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Stage four for Parkinsons disease is often called advanced Parkinsons disease because people in this stage experience severe and incapacitating symptoms. This is when medication doesnt help as much and serious disabilities set in.

Theres an increased severity in:

  • How you speak a softer voice that trails off.
  • Falling and trouble with balance and coordination.
  • Freezing a sudden, but temporary inability to move, when you start to walk or change direction.
  • Moving without assistance or a wheelchair.
  • Other symptoms such as constipation, depression, loss of smell, low blood pressure when going to stand up, pain, and sleep issues.

Many times someone with advanced PD cant live on their own and needs help with daily tasks.

Stage five is the final stage of Parkinsons, and assistance will be needed in all areas of daily life as motor skills are seriously impaired. You may:

  • Experience stiffness in your legs. It may make it impossible to walk or stand without help.
  • Need a wheelchair at all times or are bedridden.
  • Need round-the-clock nursing care for all activities.
  • Experience hallucinations and delusions.

As Parkinsons disease progresses into these advanced stages, its symptoms can often become increasingly difficult to manage. Whether you or your loved one with end-stage Parkinsons lives at home, in an assisted living facility or a nursing home, hospice services can optimize your quality of life and that of your family members as well.

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Medications For People With Parkinsons Disease

Symptoms of Parkinsons disease result from the progressive degeneration of nerve cells in the brain and other organs such as the gut, which produce a neurotransmitter called dopamine. This causes a deficiency in the availability of dopamine, which is necessary for smooth and controlled movements. Medication therapy focuses on maximising the availability of dopamine in the brain. Medication regimes are individually tailored to your specific need. Parkinsons medications fit into one of the following broad categories:

  • levodopa dopamine replacement therapy
  • dopamine agonists mimic the action of dopamine
  • COMT inhibitors used along with levodopa. This medication blocks an enzyme known as COMT to prevent levodopa breaking down in the intestine, allowing more of it to reach the brain
  • anticholinergics block the effect of another brain chemical to rebalance its levels with dopamine
  • amantadine has anticholinergic properties and improves dopamine transmission
  • MAO type B inhibitors prevent the metabolism of dopamine within the brain.

Can Older Adults With Parkinsons Enjoy Normal Lives

By Annette Campbell 9 am on February 10, 2021

Parkinsons disease is classified as a neurological disorder, which means it affects nerve cells that transmit signals to and within the brain. The Parkinsons Foundation estimates about 1 percent of all seniors have some form of this condition. However, having Parkinsons doesnt mean your senior loved one cant still live a normal life. Today, were going to focus on what can be done to achieve this goal.

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Medication Often Manages Symptoms

While Parkinsons is a progressive condition, people with this disease have varying degrees of symptoms. The good news is medication is often effective at easing some of the more disruptive symptoms associated with PD. One of the most effective PD-specific drugs is levodopa, which restores normal levels of an important brain chemical called dopamine.

Helpful Hints About The Home

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There are many tips and tricks you can put into place around your home that will help you in your everyday life. Simply adjusting the layout of your kitchen can make food preparation much safer and easier, or perhaps changing the type of sole you have on your shoe will help to prevent falls.

To see a wide range of suggestions to help with activities from dressing to driving, and movement to memory see Helpful hints.

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Relationships With Family And Friends

Living with Parkinsons will also affect your family and friends and it will take time for you all to adjust to the illness being part of your lives. How much you want to involve those close to you in the early stages is a very personal decision, however, it is important to remember that you would have had Parkinsons for some time – things wont have suddenly changed overnight.

For ideas on how to talk to family and friends and maintain strong relationships, as well as other tips on communication, see Relationships & communication.

If You Have Been Diagnosed With Parkinsons

  • Feel your emotions. You will go through many different emotions as the disease progresses and you face new challenges. Allow yourself to feel and express your emotions in healthy ways.
  • Educate yourself. Learn as much as possible about the disease and how it will likely affect you and your family as it progresses.
  • Get involved in your care. Take an active role in your own health and your care plan. Be sure to work with your doctors to optimize your medications.
  • Communicate directly. Be clear with family members and care providers about your priorities, needs, and wants.
  • Reach out to others. Spending time with other people who have PD can help you learn about the disease and feel encouraged.
  • Stay positive. Focus on what you can do rather than what you cannot do. Explore new activities and new ways to find happiness and fulfillment.

While the symptoms and progression of this disease vary from person to person, Parkinsonâs is generally defined byfive stages, ranging from mild symptoms that donât interfere with daily activities to advanced severe symptoms that are quite limiting and often debilitating. By Stage Three, most people with Parkinsonâs experience loss of balance and trouble controlling their movement. This is when families find that adding a care professional to their caregiving team can be helpful.

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Looking After Your Financial And Legal Affairs And Knowing Your Entitlements

Having Parkinsons may affect you financially for a number of reasons, if, for example you have to stop working or need additional care. It is important to plan for your future sooner rather than later in order to compensate for any financial hardships. You may be legally entitled to certain benefits, so speak to your healthcare professionals, local benefit offices or others in the same situation as you for tips and advice.

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Living Alone With Parkinsons Disease

Living with Parkinson
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Any new diagnosis can bring with it questions, fears, and concerns for the future. A diagnosis of Parkinsons disease , a chronic lifelong condition for which there is no cure, would be unsettling to anyone, even those who have a great support system. For someone who lives alone, it can elicit additional feelings of worry and uncertainty about how you will be able to cope, staying in your home.

Parkinsons is a neurodegenerative disorder that affects the brain resulting in changes to motor and non-motor skills. Damage to nerve cells that reduce dopamine production can affect movement and emotions.

Many people who live alone cope well with their condition. As PD takes a unique course with each person, there is no single approach to taking care of ones self. Each person will develop a distinct set of symptoms during the progression of their disease. Some will experience changes in motor skills, as generally experienced with early stage PD. Others can develop substantial mental health disruption in addition to the deterioration in motor function that may make it difficult to live on your own.

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