Combine Exercise With Diet
Dr. Gostkowski says if you want to feel your best, combine a healthy diet with exercise. Research has shown that regular exercise can improve PD symptoms.
Do exercise that raises your heart rate, Dr. Gostkowski says. Aim for about 30 minutes a day, five days a week. Dont worry about specific exercises. Do an activity you enjoy, as long as it gets your heart rate up. Try brisk walking or biking or more advanced exercise for veteran athletes. I recommend seeing an occupational therapist. They can tailor an exercise program to your needs.
Best Mouse For Parkinsons Patients
Around 50% of the people that are suffering from Parkinsons disease also suffer from significant challenges while performing their daily routine activities. Additionally, due to extensive hand tremors because of the disease, the patients have a hard time while using the mouse.
Because they dont know if there are any possible solutions, the majority have them have no experience whatsoever in using the possible alternatives to the conventional mouse.
Although some of the users have previous experience while using a touchpad, the majority of them dont even know if there are any possible options out there. Here are some of the best mice for Parkinsons patients.
Medical Treatment Outside Europe
The UK has agreements with some countries that may mean you’re able to receive free or reduced rate healthcare outside Europe in an emergency.
If you’re charged for treatment, you won’t be able to apply for a refund from the UK Government when you return home.
To get treatment, you’ll usually need to show your British passport and proof of residence, such as a driving licence.
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Specialist Travel Insurance From Free Spirit For Parkinsons Disease
We have designed a fully comprehensive Parkinsons disease travel insurance for that much needed holiday and it has all the key features you would expect to see from a standard policy and much more!
Why should you cover your Parkinsons disease for travelling?
The two main reasons for taking out specialist travel insurance for Parkinsons disease is to cover you for cancellation before you travel and to cover you for emergency medical expenses while you are away.
In the event you need to cancel your holiday due to your Parkinsons disease, Free Spirit can provide cancellation cover for your unused travel and accommodation costs that you have already paid for or are contracted to pay. If you are unfortunate enough to have a medical emergency during your holiday because of your Parkinsons disease, Free Spirit can provide cover for your associated costs including medical repatriation if medically necessary.
Dont forget, if you arrange your cover as soon as you book your holiday you will be immediately protected should you need to cancel your trip .
Consequences of not covering your Parkinsons disease before you go on holiday
Many standard travel insurance policies exclude cover for pre-existing medical conditions such as Parkinsons disease or will decline to offer cover. However, with Free Spirit you can obtain the insurance cover you need for your Parkinsons disease and any associated medical conditions, to give you the peace of mind protection you need when you travel.
Travel And Parkinsons: Traveling Tips For Summer
Traveling can be stressful for a lot of people, but it can be particularly stressful when you mix in the unpredictability of Parkinsons disease. Five years ago, at the Orlando International Airport, I learned the hard way just how important it is to plan ahead when traveling with the extra baggage of Parkinsons.
What was supposed to be a fun trip with a group of friends to celebrate my 40th birthday didnt start off well. A late night of last-minute packing plus an early morning flight meant very little sleep. As we were delayed by traffic on the way to the airport, I could feel slowness and rigidity starting to set in. I took a pill hoping it would kick in before we got to the airport. It felt like my dopamine levels were dropping almost as fast as my optimism of making our flight on time. When we finally arrived at the airport, thanks to a friendly airline attendant at curbside check-in, things were looking up.
Then it happened. As I rounded the corner to the security checkpoint and laid eyes on the typical long lines of passengers, I could feel my toes starting to curl. As I was on the verge of not being able to stand, my husband went searching for a wheelchair. This was a first for me I had never required a wheelchair before. Heck, at this point very few people even knew I had Parkinsons.
About Guest Author Tonya Walker:
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We Both Sat Down And He Began To Eat
He attacked the muffin the way you might eat an apple gripping it with the entire width of his hand and lifting it to his face for enormous bites. It crumbled as he mauled it, massive pieces tumbling over the wrapper and landing on him. All over his lap and his shirt and his seat and the seat between us.
He was not mortified, like I would have been if it were me.
He wasn’t even affected.
Halfway through, he had clumps of muffin pinched precariously between his fingers. He was picking up stray blueberries off the seat and eating them.
What Is Parkinsons Disease
For those who are planning a trip for someone with Parkinsons disease, its important to understand how it impacts the body. Parkinsons is a nervous system disorder that worsens over time. It typically starts with small tremors in the hand. Eventually, the tremors increase in frequency and duration.
Symptoms include severe muscle cramps, impaired posture and balance, difficulties with speech and overall slowed movement. But none of these should make it impossible to travel. The key is planning ahead to deal with any potential issues.
As a person with the disease wrote for the Parkinsons Foundation: While traveling with Parkinsons disease may not be a spontaneous, carefree experience, you can still enjoy a wonderful time away with some advance planning and preparation.
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People Were Staring I Wanted To Help To Do Something But I Didn’t Know What
I had my phone to my ear now, working out the last minute details of our shuttle pickup. I had my other hand death-gripped around his pill case, which I was under strict orders to never let out of my sight.
As my dad gnawed his way further into the muffin’s core, I noticed this older bald guy in a fleece jacket across from us stealing glances at the scene. I thought about telling him to mind his own business, but reconsidered given the absurdity of what was happening. I understood why he’d be compelled to look.
But I started to hate this random guy anyway.
There was nothing spectacular about him. He was bald with some prickly silver stubble covering his chin and an orange fleece pullover. He was just a guy, really.
Mercury 10 Tablet Magnifier With Ocr Speech Touch Screen Video Magnifier
The Mercury 10 Tablet Magnifier with OCR Speech Touch Screen Video Magnifier uses the state of the art technology to make it easier for the patients to perform their mobile-related tasks easily.
It encompasses a magnification system that is similar to that of an android tablet. The sole purpose of designing this tab is to provide comfort and ease of access to patients with Parkinsons.
Mercury 10 Tablet Magnifier with OCR Speech Touch Screen Video Magnifier can enlarge the image of printed material and can speak it out loud too.
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Karl Robb Provides Practical Tips For Safe And Comfortable Travels
From the train ticket collector who wanted proof of my Parkinson’s disease to the airport security ladies who laughed at the way I was moving, I have certainly experienced my share of frustrations while traveling. Even so, it is the fellow travelers who reached out to lend me a hand that I remember most.
I am not ashamed of being a person with Parkinson’s disease. So when I travel, I don’t hide. But there was a time, in my early twenties, when I would not tell people I had Parkinson’s. Now in my forties, I feel a responsibility to educate everyone who has an interest in this illness.
Traveling these days, whether you have a physical challenge or not, can be a hassle, but there are ways to make the time away more enjoyable, safer, and less stressful. Here is a list of helpful tips that I hope will make you and your travel companions more comfortable on your next vacation.
Create a checklist. Following a good list will help you be prepared and not be over packed.
Start packing early. Packing ahead of schedule will allow you to relax and feel less rushed the day you leave. Make sure that the clothes you want to wear are ready and all the items you want to bring are easily accessible.
Choose comfort over fashion. Pack comfortable clothes and walking shoes that will allow you to move freely. Your mobility and flexibility should be a priority when you are on the go.
Returning To Your Home Country
Look into any rules and regulations that would affect you if you decide to move back, permanently or temporarily. If you have been resident abroad for some time, you may have to pay for health services that residents receive free of charge.
There may be tax, pension and social care implications if you decide to return to live in your country of origin permanently for example, you may not have an automatic entitlement to certain financial benefits if you have lived abroad for several years.
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Vitamins For Parkinson’s Disease
Apart from traditional pharmaceutical treatments, if you have Parkinsons disease, your doctor may recommend vitamins with antioxidant properties. While it is best to get these from food sources as part of a healthy, balanced diet, some people need to take supplements. These vitamins include:
- Vitamin B12
- Folate
Will I Benefit From Participating
There will be no benefits for you participating in this research study. The results of the study will be used to explore what the effects of vacation are on the symptoms of Parkinsons disease. By filling out this survey, you are helping us gaining new insights into Parkinsons disease. Because of this your participation is of great value to us.
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Rock To Rock Trip For Parkinsons Research
Three truckie mates are set to embark on a 3000km trip from Geraldton to Uluru, each driving a restored WWII military truck, to raise money for a cause close to their hearts.
Michael Kingy King, John Marriott and Jamie Morrison from Geraldton, WA plan to begin the voyage in their hometown on July 9 , making their way to Mt Augustus and then over to Uluru. They expect to arrive at their final stop on July 25.
Theyve aptly named the fundraising event Rock to Rock, with the Mt Augustus to Uluru itinerary re-enacting the wartime journey of convoys during WWII.
The mates have each restored an abandoned vintage military truck Kingy will be behind the wheel of his 1945 Chevrolet Blitz. John Marriott and Jamie Morrison will drive the 1944 6×6 Studebaker that they restored with the help of some close friends who have also been affected by Parkinsons. While Mick Burnett will steer the 1963 International Acco that he and Kingy recovered on a recent episode of Outback Truckers.
Kingy, 64, runs a chemical carting business called Faststar Holdings, transporting liquid chemicals such as sulphuric acid, caustic and hydrochloric to mine sites and remote communities. A separate arm of the business also buys and bags salt for mining companies.
Kingy has been on Outback Truckers over the years and appeared on episodes screened in June, where he and Mick Burnett embarked on an extremely difficult trek to pick up two abandoned military trucks from the Great Sandy Desert in WA.
How To Safely Travel With Pd
If you want to fly with Parkinsons disease, the first step is committing to following certain steps that can make a trip much safer and easier to manage. They include the following from the Parkinsons Foundation and Web MD.
Book a non-stop flight. You dont want the hassle of changing planes in a busy hub airport like the ones in Atlanta or Dallas.
Travel with a companion. It helps to have someone along who understands your condition, including a good friend, family member or flight nurse.
Carry important information. Make sure to carry the name of your doctor, insurance company, emergency contact and list of medications on your person in a wallet, purse, travel bag, etc. Also, carry something that clearly states you have Parkinsons disease.
Use backpacks. You want your hands free to better maintain balance. You can manage this by using a backpack Also, always carry a snack and water in your backpack to take with medications.
Stay comfortable. Wear loose-fitting clothes and walking shoes that fit well. Also, sit near the bathroom on your flight to limit having to walk the length of the plane. Better yet, use the bathroom before you board so you can skip the cramped airplane bathroom completely.
Always leave early! You want more than enough time, not less.
Charge your phone. You dont want to have to waste time trying to find a place to recharge your phone in the airport.
Its important to take steps that will keep your medications safe and easy to access.
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In That Moment I Got A Glimpse Of My Dad The Real One
The one who raised three kids and taught us how to throw a football, how to use a hammer, how to treat people. The one who, in another world, would have been leading me through the airport, reciting Civil War trivia as we walked. The one who, to an outsider, would have been just a guy.
The one who, to those who knew him, was far from just a guy.
Little Pink Houses Of Hope
Little Pink Houses of Hope provides free week-long beach retreats for people with breast cancer and their families. The beach retreats are held in North Carolina, South Carolina, Alabama, Delaware, Florida, and California. Each family stays in a beach home donated for that week. The refrigerators are stocked with drinks and breakfasts for the week. Lunch and dinner are eaten together with other families who are also spending the week at the beach. The family can participate in daily activities that have been donated by the local community.
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He Looked At Me As I Approached And Said Are We Ready To Go Home
For a second, it felt like we were already there.
We stood and waited to board, watching travelers deplane from the previous flight. We were mostly silent because no one ever wrote a handbook on how to ask your father if he’s sure he doesn’t need to use the restroom and then jump into shooting the shit about sports.
So it was easier to just say nothing.
But it was a comfortable silence. Maybe even a happy one. Because the catastrophe I had dreaded and been warned about and tried so hard to avoid, well, it ended up just being a particularly unwieldy muffin.
And all it took was a single napkin to wipe away any trace that anything had ever gone wrong.
If only for a second.
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Add Medication For A Winning Combo
Diet and exercise are important for managing PD, but dont forget about medications. Take them regularly and exactly as your doctor prescribes.
If you tend to forget your medication, set an alarm to remind you. You can also use a pillbox thats labeled with days and times of day. Take your meds on a set schedule, dont skip doses and dont double dose, says Dr. Gostkowski. When youre diligent about taking your medications and following a healthy lifestyle, youll feel your best.
Bump Up Your Fiber Intake
A high-fiber diet is a proven way to avoid constipation, a common problem for people with PD.
Parkinsons can slow down the intestines and cause constipation, Dr. Gostkowski says. Fiber helps keep things moving. There are plenty of high-fiber foods out there, so choose your favorites. Women should aim for 25 grams of fiber per day, and men should get 38 grams.
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Forget Fava Beans For Parkinsons
Fava beans contain an amino acid known as levodopa. Levodopa is an active ingredient in some Parkinsons medications. Seems like a good reason to eat a lot of fava beans, right?
Nope. Dr. Gostkowski explains that the amount in the beans is tiny compared to whats in your medication. You cant eat enough fava beans to have any effect on your symptoms, he says.
Bananas also have levodopa in them, Dr. Gostkowski says. But, like fava beans, its not possible to eat enough bananas to affect PD symptoms. Of course, if you like fava beans or bananas, enjoy! But dont go overboard or expect them to work like medication. Eat a variety of fruits, veggies, legumes and whole grains for balance.
But What Stood Out About This Man To Me Was That He Didn’t Have Any Food Stains On His Clothes
He didn’t have elastic shoelaces or drawstring pants. He didn’t have hearing aids. He didn’t have anyone with him to help him get on the plane without getting lost.
I started to hate him because I thought, this is who my dad was supposed to be.
My call finally ended and I hung up. At this point, I had seen enough of the muffin massacre and was ready to go get us a plate, some napkins, something. But I remembered I hadn’t gotten us a preboarding pass yet and we’d be boarding any minute. My dad not surprisingly doesn’t do well with people nipping at his heels, squeezing around him, crowding him, hurrying him. We needed to board before the rest of the passengers. It was one of the last obstacles between us and home.
At the ticketing desk, I kept glancing back as I talked to the agent.
I’m traveling with my father who is, uh, he has He’s handicapped.”
I never know how to describe it.
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