Doctor's Opinion Parkinson’s is progressive disorder in which your brain stops producing chemicals which control the motor movements of the body. Still, there is no cure of the disease but it can be treated using various methods including medication, therapies and Deep Brain Stimulation. Symptoms of Parkinson disease can be: - -Tremor in hand or fingers -Reduced ability to move or walk -Dizziness when standing -Muscle stiffness -Impaired posture and balance -Decreased in facial movements -Difficulty in swallowing -Difficult to write What is Deep Brain Stimulation? DBS is a surgical process which treats a variety of neurological symptoms such as tremor, rigidity, stiffness in muscles, walking problems. DBS doesn’t damage the healthy brain tissue by destroying nerve cells instead this procedure blocks electrical signal from targeted sections in the brain. DBS can be often described as pacemaker for the brain, sending electrical signals to the brain. It is important to understand to understand that DBS does not offer a cure for your disease but it’s a way to manage it more conveniently and effectively. DBS cost in India varies from individual to individual depending upon his medical history or condition. It is important to understand that Deep Brain Stimulation is not a permanent cure. It is better to know few things before opting for the surgical process – Is it good time to consider DBS? There are factors which determine if DBS is a good option to go for, based on the individual’s diagnosis and condition. DBS in mainly helpful if you face motor fluctuations or tremors that affect the activities that are not already adequately managed by medication or not improved by medication. Another factors which can be considered age in combination with general health, support from family and friends,absence of dementia or any active psychiatric disease. Patients are being evaluated by the Surgical Therapies Improving Movement (STIM) multidisciplinary team, which has professional training in DBS. The STIM team includes a neurosurgeon, neurologist, clinical neuropsychologist, nurse and other medical team members. Try to make the list of questions about DBS before the surgical procedure starts and make sure they will be answered to your satisfaction level. It’s always advisable to get your answers which are coming to the mind regarding the surgery. Try to connect with patients who have already been through the surgical procedure, you can take the help from the center’s staff in contacting them. They can share their positive or negative experiences which could support you in preparing before Deep Brain Stimulation surgery. Apart from their feedbacks you can also ask about the DBS surgery cost as it varies from center to center and country to country respectively. How does DBS feel like? Individuals may encounter a slight, temporary shock or tingling as placement during the initial programming of DBS. Identifying the best placement and level enables the patient to receive the greatest outcome based on his unique condition and requirement. DBS and Pacemaker? Pacemakers are generally put in the same pocket in the chest where DBS stimulators are placed. Since, the pacemakers are placed on the left side of the chest, the DBS stimulator could be placed...

പാര്‍ക്കിന്‍സോണിസം എന്നാലെന്ത്? പാര്‍ക്കിന്‍സോണിസം എന്നത് താഴെപറ യുന്ന രോഗലക്ഷണങ്ങള്‍ ഒത്തുചേരുമ്പോള്‍ ഉണ്ടാകുന്ന രോഗാവസ്ഥയാണ്. ഒരുവ്യക്തിക്ക് പ്രവര്‍ത്തികള്‍ ചെയ്യാനുള്ള കാലതാമസവും അതോടെപ്പം വിറയല്‍, പേശികളുടെ മുറുക്കം, നടക്കുമ്പോള്‍ ഉണ്ടാകുന്ന ബാലന്‍സില്ലായ്മ എന്നീ മൂന്നു രോഗലക്ഷണങ്ങളില്‍ ഏതെങ്കിലും ഒ െ ന്ന ങ്ക ി ല ു ം ഉ െ ണ്ടങ്ക ി ല്‍ അ യ ാ ള്‍ ക്ക ് പാര്‍ക്കിന്‍സോണിസം എന്ന രോഗഅവസ്ഥ ഉണ്ടെന്നു പറയാം പാര്‍ക്കിന്‍സോണിസം എന്ന രോഗാവസ്ഥ അനേകം രോഗങ്ങള്‍ കൊണ്ട് ഉണ്ടാകാവു ന്നതാണ്. അവയെ പാര്‍ക്കിന്‍സണ്‍സ് രോഗം, എറ്റിപ്പിക്കല്‍ പാര്‍ക്കിന്‍സോണിസം (അ്യേുശരമഹ ജമൃസശിീിശൊെ), സെക്കന്‍ററി പാര്‍ക്കിന്‍സോ ണിസം (ടലരീിറമൃ്യ ജമൃസശിീിശൊെ) എന്നിങ്ങനെ മൂന്നായി തരംതിരിക്കാം. ഇതില്‍ ഏറ്റവും സാധാരണയായി കുവരുന്നതും അതുകൊണ്ടുതന്നെ ഏറ്റവു ം പ്ര ധ ാ ന െ പ്പ ട്ട തു മ ാ യ േ ര ാഗം പാര്‍ക്കിന്‍സണ്‍സ് രോഗമാണ്. ഇത് തലച്ചോ റിനെ ബാധിക്കുന്ന ഒരു തേയ്മാന രോഗമാ ണ്.പാര്‍ക്കിന്‍സണ്‍സ് രോഗത്തിന്‍റെയത്ര സാധരണയായി കാണാത്ത ചില മസ്തിഷ്ക തേയ്മാന രോഗങ്ങളാണ് എറ്റിപ്പിക്കല്‍ പാര്‍ക്കിന്‍സോ ണിസം എന്ന വി ഭ ാ ഗ ത്തില്‍പ്പെട ു ന്നത് . മസ്തിഷ്ക തേയ്മാനത്തിനുപുറമെ തലച്ചോ റിന്‍റെ മറ്റുരോഗങ്ങള്‍ മൂലം പാര്‍ക്കിന്‍സോ ണിസം ഉണ്ടാ കു മ്പോ ഴാണ് സെക്കന്‍ററി പാര്‍ക്കിന്‍സോണിസം എന്നുവിളിക്കുന്നത്. സ്ട്രോക്ക് മൂലം ഉാകുന്ന പാര്‍ക്കിന്‍സോണിസം (ഢമരൌഹമൃ ജമൃസശിീിശൊെ), ചില മരുന്നുകള്‍ മൂലം ഉാകുന്ന പാര്‍ക്കിന്‍സോണിസം (ഉൃൗഴ കിറൗരലറ ജമൃസശിീിശൊെ) എന്നിവ ഇതിനുദാഹരണങ്ങളാണ് ഈ ലേഖനത്തിലെ ഇനിയുള്ള വിവരണങ്ങള്‍ പാര്‍ക്കിന്‍സണ്‍സ് രോഗത്തെക്കുറിച്ച് മാത്രമുള്ളതായിരിക്കും. പാര്‍ക്കിന്‍സണ്‍സ് രോഗം എന്നാലെന്ത് ? പാര്‍ക്കിന്‍സണ്‍സ് രോഗം തലച്ചോറിനെ ബാധി ക്കുന്ന ഒരു തേയ്മാന രോഗമാണ്. തേയ്മാന രോഗമായതുകൊണ്ടു തന്നെ, ഇത് രോഗി യുടെ ശിഷ്ടജീവിത കാലം മുഴുവന്‍ നില നില്‍ക്കുന്നതും സമയം ചെല്ലുന്തോറും രോഗ ല ക്ഷണങ്ങള്‍ മൂര്‍ച്ഛിക്കു ന്നതുമായ രോഗമാണ്. Tതലച്ചോറിലെ സബ്സ്റ്റേന്‍ഷ്യ നൈഗ്ര (ടൗയമെേിശേമ ിശഴൃമ) എന്ന ഭാഗത്തെ നാഡീകോശങ്ങള്‍ തേ യ ് മ ാനം മ ൂലം ന ശ ി ക്കു മ്പോ ഴ ാണ് പാര്‍ക്കിന്‍സണ്‍സ് രോഗം ഉണ്ടാകുന്നത്. ഈ നാഡീകോശങ്ങള്‍ നശിക്കുമ്പോള്‍ അവ ഉല്‍പ്പാദിപ്പിക്കുന്ന 'ഡോപ്പമിന്‍' (റീുമാശില)എന്ന രാസവസ് ത ു ത ലേ ച്ച ാ റ ി ല്‍ കു റ യ ു ന്നു . പാര്‍ക്കിന്‍സണ്‍സ് രോഗിയില്‍ രോഗലക്ഷണ ങ്ങള്‍ കണ്ടു തുടങ്ങുമ്പോള്‍ തന്നെ ഈ നാഡീകോശങ്ങളില്‍ 70-80 ശതമാനവും നശിച്ചി ട്ടുണ്ടാകും. 'ഡോപ്പമിന്‍' എന്ന രാസവസ്തു വിന്‍റെ കുറവ് ഏറ്റവും കൂടുതല്‍ ബാധിക്കുന്നത് ശരീരത്തിന്‍റെ ചലനങ്ങള്‍ നിയന്ത്രിക്കുന്ന തലച്ചോറിലെ ബേസല്‍ ഗാംഗ്ലിയ (ആമമെഹ ഴമിഴഹശമ) എന്ന ഭാഗത്തെയാണ്. ഇതുമൂലം പാര്‍ക്കിന്‍സോ ണിസം എന്ന രോഗാവസ്ഥ ഉണ്ടാകുന്നു. രോഗത്തിന്‍റെ ആദ്യ വിവരണം പ്രശസ്ത ഇംഗ്ലീഷ് ഭിഷഗ്വരനായ ജംയിംസ് പാര്‍ക്കിന്‍സണ്‍ ആണ് ഈ രോഗത്തെക്കുറിച്ച് ആദ്യമായി രേഖപ്പെടുത്തിയത്. അദ്ദേഹം ഈ രോഗത്തെ 'ഷേക്കിംഗ് പാള്‍സി' (ടവമസശിഴ ുമഹ്യെ)എന്നാണ് വിളിച്ചത്. രോഗത്തിന്‍റെ നാമകരണം പ്രശസ്ത ഫ്രെഞ്ച് (എൃലിരവ) ന്യൂറോളിജിസ്റ്റായ ഷാര്‍ക്കോട്ട് (ഇവമൃരീേ) ആണ് ഈ രോഗത്തിന് ജയിംസ് പാര്‍ക്കിന്‍സണ്‍ എന്ന ഭിഷഗ്വരന്‍റെ ബഹുമാനാര്‍ത്ഥം പാര്‍ക്കിന്‍സണ്‍സ് രോഗം എന്ന് നാമധേയം ചെയ്യണമെന്ന് നിര്‍ദ്ദേശിച്ചത്.ആ നിര്‍ദ്ദേശം ആധുനിക വൈദ്യശാസ്ത്രം അംഗീകരിക്കുകയായിരുന്നു പാര്‍ക്കിന്‍സണ്‍സ് രോഗം എന്തുകൊ ണ്ടാണ് ഉണ്ടാകുന്നത്? പാര്‍ക്കിന്‍സണ്‍സ് രോഗത്തില്‍ നാഡീകോശങ്ങ ളുടെ തേയ്മാനത്തിന്‍റെ യഥാര്‍ത്ഥ കാരണങ്ങള്‍ കണ്ടു പിടിക്കപ്പെട്ടിട്ടില്ല. പാരിസ്ഥിതിക ഘടക ങ്ങളായ മലിനീകരണം, രാസവസ്തുക്കള്‍, കീട നാശിനികള്‍ എന്നിവയുടെ അമിതമായ ഉപ യോഗവും ജനിതക ഘടകങ്ങളും കാരണങ്ങ ളായി സംശയിക്കപ്പെടുന്നു ആരിലാണ് പാര്‍ക്കിന്‍സണ്‍സ് രോഗം കാണുന്നത്? സാധരണയായി 50വയസ്സിനു മുകളില്‍ പ്രായമുള്ളവരിലാണ് ഈ രോഗം കണ്ടുവരുന്നത്. 50 വയസ്സിനു മേലെ പ്രായം ഉള്ളവരില്‍ 1 ശതമാനം ആളുകളിലും 65 വയസ്സിനുമേലെ പ്രായംഉള്ളവ രില്‍ 1.8 ശതമാനം വ്യക്തികളിലും 85 വയസ്സിനു മേലെ പ്രായം ഉള്ളവരില്‍ 2.6 ശതമാനം പേ രിലും ഈ രോഗം കണ്ടുവരുന്നു. നമ്മുടെ രാജ്യത്തെ ജനങ്ങളുടെ ആയുര്‍ദൈര്‍ഘ്യം കൂടിവരികയാണല്ലോ. അതിനാല്‍ കൂടുതല്‍ മുതിര്‍ന്ന പൗരന്‍മാരും വൃദ്ധജനങ്ങളും ഉണ്ടാകുന്നതിന നുസരിച്ച് കൂടുതല്‍ പാര്‍ക്കിന്‍സണ്‍സ് രോഗികള്‍ ഉണ്ടാകാനുള്ള സാധ്യതയുണ്ട് എന്നര്‍ത്ഥം. ഇതു പൊതുവേ ഒരു വാര്‍ദ്ധക്യകാലരോഗമാണെ ങ്കിലും ഏകദേശം 10 ശതമാനം രോഗികളില്‍ 40 വയസ്സിന് മുമ്പ് തന്നെ ഈ രോഗം ഉണ്ടാകാവു ന്നതാണ്. ചെറു പ്പക്കാ രില്‍ ഉണ്ടാ കുന്ന പാര്‍ക്കിന്‍സണ്‍സ് രോഗത്തിന്‍റെ കാരണം ജനിതക ഘടകങ്ങള്‍ ആകാനുള്ള സാധ്യത കൂടുതലാണ്. രോഗലക്ഷണങ്ങള്‍ രോഗലക്ഷണങ്ങളെ ചലനപ്രശ്നങ്ങള്‍, ചലന സംബന്ധമല്ലാത്ത പ്രശ്നങ്ങള്‍ എന്നിങ്ങനെ രണ്ടായി തരം തിരിക്കാം ചലന പ്രശ്നങ്ങളെ വീണ്ടും കാതലായ ചലനപ്ര ശ്നങ്ങള്‍, മറ്റുചലനപ്രശ്നങ്ങള്‍ എന്നിങ്ങനെ രണ്ടായി തരംതിരിച്ചിട്ടുണ്ട്. കാതലായ ചലന പ്രശ്നങ്ങള്‍ താഴെ പറയുന്നവയാണ് 1. വിറയല്‍ ഭൂരിഭാഗം രോഗികളിലും വിറയല്‍ ആണ് ആദ്യം ശ്രദ്ധയില്‍പ്പെടുന്ന ലക്ഷണം. പാര്‍ക്കിന്‍സണ്‍സ് രോഗികളില്‍ വിശ്രമ അവസ്ഥയിലാണ് വിറയല്‍ കൂടുതലായി കാണുന്നത്. പ്രവൃത്തികള്‍ ചെയ്യുമ്പോള്‍ വിറയല്‍ മിക്കവാറും അപ്രത്യക്ഷമാകും. അതുകൊണ്ടുതന്നെ ഇതിനെ 'വിശ്രമാവസ്ഥയിലുള്ള വിറയല്‍' എന്നാണ് വിളിക്കുന്നത്. മാന സിക സംഘര്‍ഷമുള്ള അവസരങ്ങളില്‍ ഈ വിറയല്‍ കൂടാറുണ്ട്. 2. പേശികളുടെ മുറുക്കം മാംസ പേശികളുടെ മുറുക്കം മൂലം ചലനം പ്രയാസമായിത്തീരുന്നു. 3. പ്രവൃത്തികള്‍ ചെയ്യുന്നതിനുള്ള കാലതാമസം ഇതുമൂലം ദൈനംദിന പ്രവൃത്തികളായ ഭക്ഷണം കഴിക്കല്‍,വസ്ത്രധാരണം, നടപ്പ് തുടങ്ങിയവ ചെയ്യുവാനുള്ള സമയം ക്രമാതീതമായി വര്‍ദ്ധി ക്കുന്നു. 4. നടക്കുമ്പോള്‍ ബാലന്‍സില്ലായ്മ ഇതുമൂലം രോഗിക്ക് നട ക്കു മ്പോള്‍ വീഴുമോ എന്ന ഭയം ഉണ്ടാകുന്നു....

Doctor's Opinion Parkinson’s disease is a neurological disease that affects an individual as one starts aging. It has no one particular reason to occur, nor does it have a set of defined symptoms, that alerts a potential patient. Parkinson’s disease mainly is a neurodegenerative disorder that predominantly affects the dopamine producing neurons, thereby affecting an individual’s central nervous system. It mainly is a disorder that is marked with age, and cannot be cured but can be treated. As the disease progresses, the patient begin to progressively lose their motor skills thereby impeding movement. Moreover later stages of the disease lead to other neurological concerns, mainly due to the lack of dopamine secretion the brain begins to produce; this includes chemical imbalances, depression, drastic mood swings, irritability, etc. Everyday Life People who face Parkinson’s disease face a lot of difficulties that tend to affect their day to day life. The most common symptoms that are found are shivering, shaking of limbs, fatigue, decreased motor coordination. The degradation of motor skills puts a huge toll on the person, because it alters basic skills such as walking, holding things that often we humans take for granted. Early signs of the disease can include many uncontrollable movements, not just occasionally, but on a regular basis. All this can have a significant impact on ones day to day lifestyle. Basic everyday tasks like eating, driving, walking, writing, begins to require assistance. Thus, in short, Parkinson’s disease can alter your family relations, how one exercise, eats, works and moves. But these changes do not happen immediately, and one can take steps to minimize the long-term effects. Parkinson’s therefore is a progressive disease, which means that it will not hamper one’s lifestyle immediately. With respect to work, one does not need to stop work right after diagnosis. If carefully managed, treatment and support from one's employer can enable the patient to work for years. Skill Changes When it comes to tasks like driving, it is important to notify road authorities and one’s insurance company about a Parkinson’s diagnosis, as this disease can impact one’s ability to judge distance and react to on road situations. Other than the aforementioned, basic motor skills are hampered, there comes a time when the patient will experience difficulty in moving around. As the disease progresses, adaptations have to be made in one’s living environment to ensure that the patient does not get injured. In order to tackle such a situation, it is imperative that a patient suffering from Parkinson’s disease maintains a healthy, well balanced diet, and incorporating moderate exercise into their routine. Diet Changes While there is no such set diet, a Parkinson’s disease patient should consume a well-rounded nutrition plan, primarily taking into consideration all food groups that occur in the Food Pyramid. A well balanced diet is important for a PD patient as it helps the patient’s body work and function more effectively, increases the impact of ongoing medication, and delays further deterioration of health. Proper diet enables the body to work more efficiently, thus providing more energy, thereby making...

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...

Doctor's Opinion What is Parkinsonism? Parkinsonism is a syndrome in which a person develops slowness of activities. Along with slowness of activities at least one among the following three symptoms such as tremor, stiffness of muscles, and postural imbalance should be present to make a diagnosis of parkinsonism. The syndrome of parkinsonism can be produced by many diseases. They are broadly classified into Parkinson's disease and Atypical Parkinsonism. Among these diseases, the most common and hence the most important disease is Parkinson's disease. Parkinson's disease is a degenerative disease of the brain. Atypical parkinsonism includes a group of degenerative diseases of the brain which are not as common as Parkinson's disease. Atypical parkinsonism also includes nondegenerative diseases that produce parkinsonism. They are called secondary parkinsonism. Parkinsonism produced by small blood clots in the brain (vascular parkinsonism) and parkinsonism produced by certain medicines (drug induced parkinsonism) are examples of secondary parkinsonism. The following descriptions in this article will be about Parkinson's disease alone. What is Parkinson's disease? Parkinson's disease is a degenerative disease of the brain. Because it is a degenerative disease, it persists throughout the life of the person. The symptoms and disability of the disease worsen over time. The disease occurs because of the destruction of nerve cells in an area of the brain called substantia nigra. These nerve cells produce an important chemical called dopamine. Because of the death of these dopamine-producing nerve cells, there will be a decrease in the amount of dopamine in the brain. When the symptoms of Parkinson's disease begin in a person, 70 – 80% of the dopamine-producing cells might have already got damaged. The depletion of dopamine mainly affects the activities of an area called basal ganglia in the brain. Basal ganglia are the area of the brain which is primarily responsible for controlling the movements of the body. Thus depletion of dopamine in the brain produces the symptoms of parkinsonism. The first description of the disease and nomenclature. This disease was first described by a British doctor name James Parkinson in 1817. He called the disease 'Shaking Palsy'. Later the disease was named after him based on the suggestion of the famous French Neurologist named Charcot. This is the 200th year of description of the disease. What produces Parkinson's disease? The exact cause of the degeneration of nerve cells in Parkinson's disease is unknown. It is suspected that genetic factors and environmental factors like pollution, excessive use of chemicals and pesticides may produce Parkinson's disease. Who develops Parkinson's disease? Usually, Parkinson's disease occurs in people older than fifty years. It is estimated that 1% of people above the age of 50 years, 1.8% of people above the age of 65 years, and 2.6% of people above the age of 85 years develop the disease. The life expectancy of the people in our country is increasing. This means that as the aging population in our society increases, we are likely to see more people with Parkinson's disease. Although this is a disease of the elderly, about 10% of patients develop the disease before 40...

Doctor's Opinion What is Parkinson’s disease? Parkinson’s Disease is a neurological disease that affects an individual as one starts aging. It has no one particular reason to occur, nor does it have a set of defined symptoms, that alerts a potential patient. Parkinson’s disease mainly is a neurodegenerative disorder that predominantly affects the dopamine-producing neurons, thereby affecting an individual’s central nervous system. It mainly is a disorder that is marked with age and cannot be cured but can be treated. As the disease progresses, the patient begins to progressively lose their motor skills thereby impeding movement. Moreover, later stages of the disease lead to other neurological concerns, mainly due to the lack of dopamine secretion the brain begins to produce; this includes chemical imbalances, depression, drastic mood swings, irritability, etc. Diagnosing Parkinson’s disease: While there is no specific test that exists to diagnose Parkinson’s, a neurologist can diagnose the same based on one’s medical history, and ongoing symptoms, and a neurological and physical examination. The doctor may suggest certain tests like a computerized tomography scan. This can help guide the direction of the diagnosis, but ultimately one’s neurological examination may determine the correct diagnosis. Tests such as an MRI, CT and PT scans, as well as an ultrasound of the brain also may be used. Usually, it takes a while to determine if one has PD as no two people have the same symptoms, and the doctor may recommend follow up appointments with neurologists and trained professionals who will analyze movement disorders, etc. How to Treat Parkinson Disease? As Parkinson Disease is incurable disease, this disease can not be cured permanently, but medication can help controlling it's symptoms. The Treatment options that doctor can prescribe are: Deep Brain Stimulation Levopada Anticholinergics Amantadine       Treatment options one can opt for: It is important to realize that Parkinson’s is a disease that cannot be cured but can be treated. Medications can help treat and control symptoms dramatically in most cases. However, in certain cases, surgery may be suggested too. One such treatment option is known as Deep Brain Stimulation. DBS or Deep Brain Stimulation is a neurosurgical procedure involving the placement of a small pacemaker sized device called a neurotransmitter that is placed under the skin of the patient’s chest and sends electrical impulses to the brain with the help of thin wires, to control movement. It is recommended for people who have PD with motor fluctuations, those whose tremors aren’t controlled by medication, or those who are intolerant to medication. Deep Brain Stimulation is also very effective for patients with essential tremor, eliminating the need for medications, and reducing tremor by 60-90%. While deep brain stimulation is a viable option and solution for those patients who face excessive movement and tremors in their body like an unwanted side effect of Parkinson’s; and is known for its success. The “pacemaker for the brain” as it is often referred to as is an implanted medical device to deliver an accurate and controlled electrical stimulus to the targeted areas of the brain, this helps...

Doctor's Opinion Background Have you noticed anyone around you having some movement problems, like tremors in fingers, or locking of legs? Have you seen anyone having problem is doing simple tasks like buttoning the shirt, holding the glass or tying the shoe laces. Or anyone speaking in a slur voice and often hesitating before speaking. Well, if your answer to anyone of this is ‘yes’, then read on. The sad part is that, the person may be suffering from some nervous system disorder like Parkinson’s disease. And still worse, as of now there is no cure for this. How DBS works? The main reason behind Parkinson’s is the decrease in the dopamine level inside our brain. This lower level of dopamine causes abnormal activity in the brain. In Deep Brain Stimulation, a small electrode is implanted into a specific area of the brain, where it delivers short pulses of electricity. These electrical pulses alter the patterns of activity in the brain responsible for the disease symptoms. This technology is quite similar to the one used in pacemakers for the heart. In fact, the two devices are so similar in design, that DBS devices are commonly known as “brain pacemakers” DBS Procedure: This surgery involves implanting a thin wire with electrodes at the tip. The electrodes can be precisely controlled to target the affected tissues. Then, high-frequency electrical stimulation is delivered through these electrodes. These stimulations alter the abnormal signals, thereby resulting in improvement in the symptoms. Pre-Surgery Procedure: Prior to the surgery, the patients are subjected to some tests to enhance the success rate of DBS. The tests include brain MRI scan, neuropsychological testing, videotaped evaluation of movement both on and off medication, and others if required. The MRI Scan and the intro-operative microelectrode mapping helps in the precise placement of the electrodes. Then, the wire is connected to the neuron-stimulator power supply (a battery-operated generator), which is placed under the skin near the collarbone. Once the electrodes start stimulating the high-frequency impulses, they start blocking the faulty signals in the brain, which are responsible for causing tremors and other movement symptoms. In simple words, they help normalize abnormal impulses. And, all this is done, without any damage to healthy tissues. Who Should Consider DBS ? Patients, who are not getting the desired benefits from medication, should seriously consider Deep Brain Stimulation therapy. Patients, who are finding it more and more difficult to do routine work, should consult a doctor to see if DBS is the right treatment. Specifically speaking, the following categories of patients, must consider going for DBS: Medicines are no longer helping as quickly or as effectively as desired. Medicine dosage required is going up Medicines are resulting in side-effects like hallucinations and/or dyskinesias The side effects of the medication have become intolerable. Life After DBS Though like most of the treatments, different patients respond differently to Deep Brain Stimulation. In most cases, results are noticed shortly after the initial programming of the DBS. However, it may require a few visits to adjust the settings for optimum results without side effects. These...

Parkinson’s is progressive disorder in which your brain stops producing chemicals which control the motor movements of the body. Still, there is no cure of the disease but it can be treated using various methods including medication, therapies and Deep Brain Stimulation. Symptoms of Parkinson disease can be: - Tremor in hand or fingers Reduced ability to move or walk Dizziness when standing Muscle stiffness Impaired posture and balance Decreased in facial movements Difficulty in swallowing Difficult to write What is Deep Brain Stimulation? DBS is a surgical process which treats a variety of neurological symptoms such as tremor, rigidity, stiffness in muscles, walking problems. DBS doesn’t damage the healthy brain tissue by destroying nerve cells instead this procedure blocks electrical signal from targeted sections in the brain. DBS can be often described as pacemaker for the brain, sending electrical signals to the brain. It is important to understand that DBS does not offer a cure for your disease but it’s a way to manage it more conveniently and effectively. DBS cost in India varies from individual to individual depending upon his medical history or condition. It is important to understand that Deep Brain Stimulation is not a permanent cure. It is better to know few things before opting for the surgical process – Is it good time to consider DBS? There are factors which determine if DBS is a good option to go for, based on the individual’s diagnosis and condition. DBS in mainly helpful if you face motor fluctuations or tremors that affect the activities that are not already adequately managed by medication or not improved by medication. Another factors which can be considered age in combination with general health, support from family and friends, absence of dementia or any active psychiatric disease. Patients are being evaluated by the Surgical Therapies Improving Movement (STIM) multidisciplinary team, which has professional training in DBS. The STIM team includes a neurosurgeon, neurologist, clinical neuro psychologist, nurse and other medical team members. Try to make the list of questions about DBS before the surgical procedure starts and make sure they will be answered to your satisfaction level. It’s always advisable to get your answers which are coming to the mind regarding the surgery. Try to connect with patients who have already been through the surgical procedure, you can take the help from the center’s staff in contacting them. They can share their positive or negative experiences which could support you in preparing before Deep Brain Stimulation surgery. Apart from their feedbacks you can also ask about the DBS surgery cost as it varies from center to center and country to country respectively. How does DBS feel like? Individuals may encounter a slight, temporary shock or tingling as placement during the initial programming of DBS. Identifying the best placement and level enables the patient to receive the greatest outcome based on his unique condition and requirement. DBS and Pacemaker? Pacemakers are generally put in the same pocket in the chest where DBS stimulators are placed. Since, the pacemakers are placed on the left...

To Understand Parkinson's Diet better we first need to understand about the Disease. As we know Parkinson’s disease is a neurological disease that affects an individual as one starts aging. It has no one particular reason to occur, nor does it have a set of defined symptoms, that alerts a potential patient. Parkinson’s disease mainly is a neurodegenerative disorder that predominantly affects the dopamine-producing neurons, thereby affecting an individual’s central nervous system. It mainly is a disorder that is marked with age and cannot be cured but can be treated. As the disease progresses, the patient begins to progressively lose their motor skills thereby impeding movement. Moreover, later stages of the disease lead to other neurological concerns, mainly due to the lack of dopamine secretion the brain begins to produce; this includes chemical imbalances, depression, drastic mood swings, irritability, etc. While there is no such set diet, a Parkinson’s disease patient should consume a well-rounded nutrition plan, primarily taking into consideration all food groups that occur in the Food Pyramid. A well-balanced diet is important for a PD patient as, it helps the patient’s bodywork and function more effectively, increases the impact of ongoing medication and delays the further deterioration of health. Proper diets enable the body to work more efficiently, thus providing more energy, thereby making the medication more enabling. This article highlights the steps that can be taken by one to make a Parkinson’s patient's medication more resourceful. To maintain good health, a person living with Parkinson’s disease should include a variety of grains, legumes, nuts in their diet as they provide natural oils, good fat, and energy. Additionally, one can consider adding dairy and milk products, along with protein-rich foods. Eggs, Fish, Meat, Beans all provide beneficial fats to the body. Diet Dos for Parkinson’s disease: The first thing a Parkinson’s disease patient should consider while opting for a diet plan is to see that the diet incorporates all food groups. The diet should include several grain products, for example, lentils, dals, bajra, ragi, etc. Since the average Indian household is highly dependent on grain products, creating and altering regular meals to accommodate the needs of a PD patient is fairly easy. Since Parkinson’s affects the individual’s nervous system, vitamins and minerals are an important component for any patient, as it provides the body with strength to beat additional bacteria. Hence, it is important to include fruits and vegetables in the diet of a Parkinson’s disease patient. A good source of vitamins and minerals is green leafy veggies like palak (blanched spinach), methi (fenugreek). Furthermore, it is a good idea to encourage the intake of complex carbohydrates and fiber-rich foods into the diets of a PD patient. Complex carbs include pasta, bread, vermicelli, etc. Fiber and carbohydrate-rich foods help reduce the intake of fats. It is also a good idea to include foods that are high in antioxidants. Antioxidants help cells fight the effects of molecules produced while the body is exposed to unwanted elements of the environment thus have anti-inflammatory effects on the brain. Foods rich in...

Parkinson’s disease is a neurological disease that affects, as one starts aging. It has no particular reason to occur, nor does it have a set of defined symptoms, that alerts a potential patient. Parkinson’s disease mainly is a neurodegenerative disorder that predominantly affects the dopamine producing neurons, thereby affecting an individual’s central nervous system. It mainly is a disorder that is marked with age, and cannot be cured but can be treated. As the disease progresses, the patient begins to progressively lose his motor skills thereby impeding movement. Moreover, later stages of the disease lead to other neurological concerns, mainly due to the lack of dopamine secretion; including chemical imbalance, depression, drastic mood swings, irritability, etc. People who face Parkinson’s disease face a lot of difficulties that tend to affect their day to day life. The most common symptoms that are found are shivering, shaking of limbs, fatigue and decreased motor coordination. The degradation of motor skills puts a huge toll on the person, because it alters basic skills such as walking, holding things that often, we humans take as granted. Early signs of the disease can include many uncontrollable movements, not just occasionally, but on a regular basis as well. All this can have a significant impact on ones day-to-day lifestyle. Basic tasks like eating, driving, walking, writing, etc. begin to require assistance. Thus, in short, Parkinson’s disease can alter your family relations, how one exercises, eats, works and moves. But these changes do not happen immediately, and one can take steps to minimize the long term affects. Parkinson’s therefore is a progressive disease, which means that it will not hamper one’s lifestyle immediately. With respect to work, one does not need to stop right after diagnosis. If carefully managed, treatment and support from ones employer can enable the patient to work for years. Common Motor Symptoms in Parkinson’s: Motor skill related disabilities due to Parkinson’s disease is sort of a given. Since PD directly affects the central nervous system of the individual, and reduces the impact of the part of the brain that controls motor skills, physical ailments are second nature to PD. Parkinson’s causes muscle rigidity, soreness, and muscular dystrophy, etc. Thus, it is obvious that as the patient develops PD, performing day to day tasks slowly becomes tougher. In order to avoid rapid degradation of health, a PD patient can take a few precautions to delay the side effects. They are healthy diet and exercise. Good nutrition and exercise help stimulate the body and brain, and also encourages the supply of fresh blood and hormones to the brain. Basic everyday tasks like eating, driving, walking, writing, begins to require assistance. Common symptoms are: Bradykinesia: refers to slowness of movement and is one of the cardinal manifestations of Parkinson's disease Tremors Rigidity Cramping: repetitive twisting or tightening of muscles Drooling: while not always viewed as a motor symptom, excessive saliva or drooling may result due to a decrease in normally automatic actions such as swallowing. While all these are common symptoms of Parkinson’s,...