Symptoms of Parkinson's Disease
Parkinson's disease usually starts very gradually. Early symptoms, which may go unnoticed for years, include stiffness of the hands, fatigue or weakness, depression and a slight limp or changes in posture. The symptoms increase and eventually may develop into full-blown parkinsonism, exhibiting muscular rigidity, tremor and slowness of movement. Other symptoms vary from patient to patient and may include soft, monotonous or slow speech, difficulty in swallowing, trouble in walking, shuffling, a change in bowel habits, slow urination, excessive sweating or drooling. Symptoms often are limited to one side of the body. Diagnosis is sometimes assisted by analysis of the patient's handwriting, which may show evidence of tremor, is typically small and tends to decrease in size with the passage of time.
Treatment of Parkinson's Disease
A short while ago, a diagnosis of parkinsonism was a lifelong condemnation. But parkinsonism has become a very treatable condition, and many patients are able to function normally for many years.
Since the cause of the disease is still unknown, therapy is aimed at relieving symptoms. Treatment usually consists of drug therapy, physical therapy and the use of devices (such as a typewriter, instead of writing by hand, or a speech amplifier) that permit patients to lead productive lives. Treatment does involve trial and error, and both doctor and patient must persevere in an attempt to find the best individual combination of drugs and dosages. Drug treatment usually entails supplying the brain with the missing neurotransmitter, dopamine. These drugs are called dopamine precursors. Some patients react best when the excessive acetylcholine is inhibited through the use of anti-cholinergic drugs.
