April is National Parkinson's Awareness Month

As you may know, Billy Graham has Parkinson’s Disease, as does Michael J. Fox. This disease usually affects people over 60, but occasionally occurs in people under 40. In 2004, it was estimated that more than 500,000 Americans had this condition. It’s a brain disorder—there is a loss of the nerve cells that produce dopamine, a chemical which allows the body to move in a smooth, coordinated way.

The most common symptoms are tremor or shaking, slow movement, stiffness, and balance problems. Other symptoms include small, cramped handwriting, shuffling walk, muffled speech, and depression. The signs and symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease grow worse over time and may eventually be disabling, but this is a slow process.

Doctors may use various tests to make sure the symptoms aren’t from some other condition, but there are no tests to make a diagnosis of this disease. The doctor makes a diagnosis based on the symptoms, examining the patient, and checking reflexes and brain function.

Men are more likely to develop this condition than women. If you have a close relative with Parkinson’s, there is a very small chance you may eventually have it, too. People who work with herbicides and pesticides over a long period are susceptible as well.

There are medications available to ease the symptoms and new ones being studied which may slow the progress of the disease. Some combinations of drugs work with fewer side effects. Usually the medicines are quite effective at first but grow less so over time. Exercise and physical therapy help to keep the person mobile and keep muscles strong. Some operations have been found to improve the tremors and other symptoms.

It’s important for the person with this disease to learn as much as he/she can about it and take an active part in decisions about treatment. Support from family and friends is most helpful. Being open about what’s going on is important for everyone in the family.

Some excellent information on Parkinson’s Disease can be found at:

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/parkinsons-disease/DS00295/DSECTION=1

http://www.parkinson.org/NETCOMMUNITY/Page.aspx?&pid=201&srcid=226

http://cms.clevelandclinic.org/neuroscience/body.cfm?id=142