Parkinson’s, the second most common neurological disorder in the world, is a progressive disease that weakens the body’s motor systems. Over time, a body suffering from Parkinson’s loses its ability to re-generate neurotransmitters, leading to the overall degeneration of the neurological system. It is the combined effects of Parkinson’s and side-effects its medication that make everyday lives of patients a constant struggle. Tremors, nausea, muscle cramps, memory loss, muscle freezing, etc. are a few of the many problems that affect the day of patients. However, daily life Parkinson’s can be easily made into a comfortable
routine by incorporating some changes in a patient’s day. Here are a few tips for daily life Parkinson’s to help you live better with the disease.
How to plan a better day with Parkinson’s?
Planning ahead of time can be the handiest daily life of Parkinson’s tips. Living a day on schedule might seem like a regimented way of life, but for a Parkinson’s patient, it can be the way back to the normalcy of a day. This should include
proper timings for medication, meals, work, travels, and sleep. While planning is one thing, many problems can arise in following your daily routine due to decreased motor control. Here are some daily life Parkinson’s tips to help you plan
a better day with Parkinson’s.
Dressing Up
Dressing up is a challenging task for Parkinson’s patients at any stage of their disease due to muscle stiffness, tremors, etc. Following are a few daily life Parkinson’s tips to help you dress up comfortably.
- Be seated while dressing to avoid losing balance due to episodes of freezing etc.
- Choose a larger size of clothes that are easier to wear and take-off.
- Go a size bigger with your shoe size as well.
Preventing Freezing
Sudden freezing of muscles a potentially dangerous and quite common symptom of Parkinson’s disease. Here are a few tips for you to help prevent any accidents due to sudden muscle freeze.
- Keep your leg muscles active and healthy with proper exercise.
- Remember to shift body weight from one foot to another for better balance in case of muscle freeze.
- Slow and steady is the best place to follow.
- Practice walking straight in a line to avoid any involuntary accidents.
Bathing
Bathing is another everyday activity that becomes a challenging task with Parkinson’s disease. Muscle stiffness and cramps don’t allow patients to reach different parts of their body, there is always the chance of slipping. Here are a few
daily life Parkinson’s tips that can help you ensure comfortable bathing.
- Get your bathroom fitted with proper preventive fitting for better footing.
- Use of a shower chair is recommended for those who struggle to stay on feet.
- Bathing brushes with larger handles can be helpful in reaching areas difficult to clean.
Using Toilet
The majority of Parkinson’s patients suffer from gastronomic and digestive problems. Also, the severe dehydration caused by some Parkinson’s medications also affects the urinary system. Following are a few helpful daily life Parkinson’s tips to use toilet comfortable.
- Keep your body hydrated properly at all times to avoid constipation etc.
- Lay some assistive toilet fitting
- Use a bedside commode for a sudden bowel situation.
- Use adult diapers for outings.
Reducing Drooling
Excessive drooling is another symptom of Parkinson’s disease that is caused by the stiffness of mouth muscles. Following are some daily life Parkinson’s tips to help you with excessive drooling.
- Perform mouth exercises to reduce muscle stiffness.
- Use chewing gum or candy to avoid excessive drooling in public.
- Use anticholinergic medicine under a neurologist’s guidance in case of uncontrollable drooling.
Ways to Make Daily Life with Parkinson’s Easier
There are many other ways to improve the daily life of Parkinson’s. Incorporating certain habits and precautions can make living with Parkinson’s disease comfortable. Here are a few ways to make daily life with Parkinson’s disease easier.
Taking Proper Diet
A happy stomach is key to a healthy body. Taking a proper diet routinely is one way of ensuring the normal functioning of the body with Parkinson’s disease. One crucial element that a Parkinson’s diet should include is foods rich in anti-oxidant
properties as the steroid medications cause toxicity in their blood. Also, the steroidal Parkinson’s medications are heavy on the liver and require an equally balanced diet to maintain its proper functioning. Patients with diseases other than
Parkinson’s patients are advised to seek the help of a certified dietician.
Exercising
Parkinson’s patients’ offer fails to realize that Parkinson’s doesn’t affect the overall health of the body. A daily life Parkinson’s tip, patients are advised to follow a proper work-out routine to keep your body healthy. Exercising will help reduce muscle stiffness and improve the overall movement of the body parts. Yoga, aerobics, etc. are some of the less physically taxing exercises to follow.
Detoxification
Over time, steroidal Parkinson’s medications lead to the accumulation of many toxic substances and chemicals in the body. Patients are advised to detoxify to maintain a healthy body as these toxins can prompt undesired alterations within
the body. Patients in the later stage of Parkinson’s are advised to seek the help of professionals as their medications are heavier. Removal of unhealthy toxins from the body is important to relieve bodily stress and maintain a healthy lifestyle with
Parkinson’s.
Concluding Remarks
Overall, maintain daily life with Parkinson’s is difficult, but it doesn’t need to be a constant struggle. Incorporating the aforementioned daily life Parkinson’s tips in your day can bring significant change in your life. Remember, change is a progressive decision, many challenges may come, be sure to rise atop.
Disclaimer:The content provided above is for informational purposes only. It is
recommended that you consult your medical professional before taking any steps
based on the information above.
Name: Dr. Rukmini Mridula Kandadai
Designation: Assistant Professor, Department of Neurology,
Nizam’s Institute of Medical Sciences, Hyderabad
Qualifications: DNB, DM