Lifestyle changes can also help, especially in the earlier stages. Treatments in stage 1 may include physical therapy to improve balance and address muscle stiffness. Regular exercise can also be important to improve strength, flexibility, and balance. For example, drinking plenty of water and eating enough fiber can reduce constipation. Other nutrients that a balanced diet includes, such as omega-3 fats and magnesium, may boost cognition, help with anxiety, and more.
In some cases, a doctor may prescribe medications, but only if the benefits at this stage outweigh the potential side effects. Exercise and physical therapy may still be beneficial at this stage. It may also be helpful for a person to work with a speech-language pathologist to address speech problems. Those who are having difficulty performing everyday tasks may benefit from working with an occupational therapist.
This type of therapy helps people learn new ways of performing tasks such as eating, dressing, and moving. These may include:.
Treatments and remedies from earlier stages may still be beneficial for those in stage 3. These include:. As the disease progresses, the benefits of some medications, such as carbidopa-levodopa, may lessen. However, if they provide even small benefits, it may be worth continuing them. In some cases, doctors may change the delivery of some medications. The continual infusion keeps the blood levels of the drugs constant. In these stages, people may undergo surgical procedures, such as deep brain stimulation DBS.
DBS involves implanting electrodes into the brain to emit electrical pulses that help reduce symptoms. Treatments and lifestyle changes can help people manage their symptoms and reduce their risk of complications. Although there's currently no cure for Parkinson's disease, treatments are available to help reduce the main symptoms and maintain quality of life for as long as possible.
You may not need any treatment during the early stages of Parkinson's disease, as symptoms are usually mild. But you may need regular appointments with your specialist so your condition can be monitored.
As the condition progresses, the symptoms of Parkinson's disease can get worse and it can become increasingly difficult to carry out everyday activities without help. Many people respond well to treatment and only experience mild to moderate disability, whereas the minority may not respond as well and can, in time, become more severely disabled.
Parkinson's disease does not directly cause people to die, but the condition can place great strain on the body, and can make some people more vulnerable to serious and life-threatening infections. But with advances in treatment, most people with Parkinson's disease now have a normal or near-normal life expectancy.
Find out more about living with Parkinson's disease. They can help if you're living with the disease and let you know about support groups in your local area. The Parkinson's UK website features news, publications, research updates and an online community where you can share your experiences.
Finally something positive for those with PD to hear. I preach exercise and staying active to stay ahead of the disease. But nothing is effective without a positive attitude. Thanks so mjuch for weighing in! People need to take this thing seriously Marc Mitnick Moderator. PD becomes a co-morbidity and the actual cause of death is due to other medical conditions.
Some of those conditions may include issues affecting respiration, cardiac, nutrition, falls, or failure to thrive [poor nutritional intake, inability to swallow; in addition to aspiration pneumonia to name a few. Please do not think of the possibilities affecting your final days. Dwell on the good things in your life!
What if they're so angry and frustrated at the inability to walk and the almost permanent RLS that they constantly rant and rage at the solo carer who is trying to help them? I hope this provides some insights for you. Take care. I had a teacher that died at age 67; his cause of death was listed as PD. Perhaps it was complications from PD, but the underlying cause was PD. We all die from illnesses like most people, such as cardiac, respiratory, etc.
Regards, Marc M. Thea Destephano Moderator. Before I was officially diagnosed with PD I began experiencing swallowing difficulties and often choked on food and liquids. That was when I learned it is a major cause of death for those with PD.
I really appreciate you emphasizing the importance of recognizing and treating chewing and swallowing symptoms. All rights reserved. Always consult your doctor about your medical conditions. Use of the site is conditional upon your acceptance of our terms of use. By Editorial Team August 23, Share to Facebook Share to Twitter email print page Bookmark for later comment 14 Reactions 0 reactions.
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