Nearly one million people in India are affected by Parkinson’s disease. Neurosurgeon Doctor shares with us about this disease.
What is Parkinson’s disease?
Parkinson’s disease is a disease that affects the nervous system. That is, a hormone called dopamine is produced in certain cells in the nervous system. This hormone helps control the body’s movements. Parkinson’s is a disease that occurs when the secretion of this hormone decreases. For a person with Parkinson’s disease, this disease affects the muscle movements of the body to a large extent. For example, a person suffering from this disease will have great difficulty speaking, walking, sitting up, writing, and seeing.
Who is more likely to get this disease?
Parkinson’s disease usually affects people over the age of 60. Some people have a genetic predisposition to the disease. Some people develop it without any underlying medical conditions. It can also affect people under the age of 40. In the past, boxers were more likely to suffer from head injuries, which is why they were more likely to get the disease. In addition, head injuries due to accidents, meningitis, and brain infections are also more likely to cause the disease.
Reason
The cause of this disease has only recently been identified. Studies suggest that the cause of this hormone deficiency is an imbalance in the levels of proteins in the cells of the nervous system of the brain. It is also said that the disease can be caused by factors such as the environment, changes due to aging, and abnormal genes.
Symptoms
There are four symptoms that are commonly seen in this disease. They are called TRAP. That is, hand tremors, stiffness in the arms and legs, decreased muscle function, and lack of balance in the body. These are the four main symptoms. Apart from this, there are also non-motor symptoms. That is, depression, insomnia, strange behaviors during sleep, pain in the arms and legs, difficulty urinating, defecating, and swallowing. The symptoms vary from person to person according to the severity of their disease.
Treatments
There are two types of treatments for Parkinson’s disease. One is to control it with medication and tablets, and the other is to perform surgery. The first type of medication is to increase the level of dopamine with tablets. Through this, the disease can be controlled to some extent. Apart from this, alternative medications can be given to control the symptoms of each person. However, these can only control the disease, but cannot cure it completely.
These pills will have to be taken for the rest of your life. With this, you can lead a comfortable life. And you can also protect yourself from the disease going to the next stage. Another problem with this is that the pills taken to control the disease can sometimes cause complications. They can also increase the severity of the disease. In this case, surgery is recommended only for those who are in this condition.
Even this cannot be done by everyone. Surgery can be done according to the severity of the disease and physical fitness of the patient. This surgery costs at least 15-25 lakhs in India. Similarly, there are different types of Parkinson’s disease. Treatments and medications vary according to the respective type.
Ways to protect yourself
It is important to avoid hitting your head. It is better to wear a helmet while riding a two-wheeler. Similarly, we should keep our environment clean and protect ourselves from infectious diseases. When it comes to food, it is better to eat sattvic foods that are good for brain function. We should reduce our intake of non-vegetarian foods.
Similarly, people who have been constipated for many years can also develop Parkinson’s. Therefore, it is important for people with constipation problems to maintain a healthy diet. It is good to exercise daily and keep the body fit. Similarly, it is good to keep the mind calm through yoga and meditation.
It is very good for people with Parkinson’s to avoid loneliness. This disease affects not only the body but also the mind. Therefore, it is necessary to talk and interact with others, such as friends and relatives. Only then can you ensure that you do not lose your self-confidence. Similarly, it is very important to keep yourself active at all times, without becoming paralyzed by this disease.
Similarly, a lot of equipment has now come for those suffering from this disease. They can be used according to their needs after consulting a doctor. It is advisable for those suffering from Parkinson’s disease to consult a good neurologist and physiotherapist and seek their advice. The main thing to consider here is that those who are with and around those suffering from this disease should understand their condition and support them.