Parkinson’s disease is an incurable neurological disorder that affects ~ 3% of the elderly population. Classified as a movement disorder, it often causes tremors, joint stiffness, and even difficulty with speech. The disease is progressive, meaning that it gets worse or does more damage over time. Although the most common and recognized symptoms are physical (tremors), the disease can also cause a number of mental or cognitive effects. Dementia, a broad term defined as a loss of mental ability beyond that of normal aging, is extremely common among Parkinson’s patients. Depression is also quite prevalent among sufferers.
In the article by Williamson, Simpson, and Murray, they argue that the progressive nature of Parkinson’s disease is connected to an increased need for care (as opposed to patients of other illnesses). The article specifically focuses on the stresses and burdens placed on the caregivers themselves, who, in this article, happen to all be the spouses of the patients. Interestingly, the article focuses more on the ‘psychotic symptoms’ of the disease, as opposed to the tremors and other physical symptoms. The authors of this article performed a study interviewing (in depth) 10 caregivers who all happened to be wives of Parkinson’s patients. The only fault I can see with this type of study is the extremely small sample size. It’s difficult to make generalizations about an entire group from the study of only 10 people. However, the study is about a very small specific group, so I think it does work.
One of the experiences that many of the caregivers had in common was confusion as the psychosis first began to develop. Many of these caregivers were simply unaware that this was a possible symptom of Parkinson’s Disease...
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...mptoms provides relief. This “it could be worse” attitude is often a helpful mindset for caregivers.
Altogether, the majority of caregivers preferred to cope by being optimistic. Since the reality of the situation is unable to be altered, the only way to deal with the psychotic symptoms of Parkinson’s is to understand the symptoms and deal with them on a day to day basis. One option that caregivers have is support groups. I find that going through a problem alone is far more difficult than going through it with others. By talking with others who are experiencing the same difficulties, caregivers can share coping techniques and relieve some of the burden.
Works Cited
Williamson, C, and J. Simpson, and C. Murray. (2008). Caregivers’ experiences of caring for a husband with Parkinson’s disease and psychotic symptoms. Social Science and Medicine, 67 (4), pp. 583-589.
Many people, like myself, after watching an episode of “The Michael Jay Fox Show,” started to be come curious as to what exactly this disease is. You ask yourself; What is this disease? What causes it? Can it be passed down from generation to generation? Is there a treatment? What would your life be like suffering from this? Through my research on Parkinson’s disease, I am determined to answer these questions. I hope to have a better understanding on this disease, and how it affects the lives of patients that I might see in a hospital.
Parkinson’s Disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder in the community resulting in significant disability. This global problem has consumed the lives of many. “Approximately 60,000 Americans are diagnosed with Parkinson's disease each year, and this number does not reflect the thousands of cases that go undetected” (Statistics on Parkinson’s, 2014). Once this unbiased disease has begun to affect the patient it is a lifelong battle. Parkinson’s disease has a tremendous impact on the patient as they battle for their independence and plead for their acceptance into their own community setting. People living with Parkinson’s disease struggle with tremors, bradykinesia and rigidity. It takes a skilled nurse to be able to care for the patient suffering with Parkinson. With education, support and exercise the patient will be able to feel some sense of hope for their future. The purpose of this paper to is educate the community about Parkinson’s disease and the impact on the patient and on the nurse caring for the patient.
With more than 200,000 US cases per year, Parkinson’s disease has become a major part
There is not a reason known as to why a person contracts Parkinson’s disease. There is no mystery as to what causes it, but when it comes to a cure and why it happens, that is the real mystery that medical experts have been trying to discover for years. When it comes down to some cases, Parkinson’s disease is genetically linked to a past relative. Other than the genetically inherited cases, no one knows why Parkinson’s disease strikes the people it does. When a person is diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, they will find that as the condition progresses, they lose control of their body more and more every day.
Parkinson's is an idiopathic, multifactorial neurodegenerative disease that attacks neurotransmitters in the brain called dopamine. Dopamine is concentrated in a specific area of the brain called the substantia nigra. The neurotransmitter dopamine is a chemical that regulates muscle movement and emotion. Dopamine is responsible for relaying messages between the substantia nigra and other parts of the brain to control body movement. The death of these neurotransmitters affects the central nervous system. The most common symptoms are movement related, including shaking, rigidity, slowness of movement and difficulty with posture. Behavioral problems may arise as the disease progresses. Due to the loss of dopamine, Parkinson's patients will often experience depression and some compulsive behavior. In advanced stages of the disease dementia will sometimes occur. The implications of the disease on the anatomy and physiology of the respiratory and phonatory systems significantly control speech.
Nurse’s play a very important role in the delivery of care to an older person and in complex disease such as Parkinson’s disease, the care provided by a nurse is vital for both the patient and the family of the affected person. The aim of this essay is to understand briefly about Parkinson’s disease and associated issues and the role of the nurse in the management of the condition.
Parkinson disease (PD), also referred to as Parkinson’s disease and paralysis agitans, is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that is the third most common neurologic disorder of older adults. It is a debilitating disease affecting motor ability and is characterized by four cardinal symptoms: tremor rigidity, bradykinesia or kinesis (slow movement/no movement), and postural instability. Most people have primary, or idiopathic, disease. A few patients have secondary parkinsonian symptoms from conditions such as brain tumors and certain anti-psychotic drugs.
Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a progressive and chronic neurodegenerative disorder. The disease is named after English physician James Parkinson, who made a detailed description of the disease in his essay: "An Essay on the Shaking Palsy" (1817). Parkinson 's disease belongs to a group of conditions called movement disorders. It is characterized by muscle rigidity, tremor, a slowing of physical movement (bradykinesia) and, in extreme cases, a loss of physical movement (akinesia) (Sue, Sue, Sue & Sue, 2014). Early symptoms of Parkinson’s include small handwriting, loss of smell, and restricted facial expression. Over time the disease worsens and symptoms become more pronounced and affect the quality of life. Shaking, slurred or slow speech and
Goldmann, David R., and David A. Horowitz. American College of Physicians Home Medical Guide to Parkinson's Disease. New York: Dorling Kindersley Pub., 2000. Print.
Parkinson's Disease has caused problems for many people in this world and plagued the elderly all over the world.Parkinson's disease still puzzles doctors and the causes are unknown. It is known that it is a non-communicable disease and may even be hereditary. Parkinson's disease is thought to be caused by external factors. Most of the cases of this disease are caused by progressive deterioration of the nerve cells, which control muscle movement. Dopamine, one of the substances used in the brain to transmit impulses, is produced in the area of deterioration.
"Parkinsonism: Causes and Coping Strategies." Parkinsonism: What Causes It? N.p., n.d. Web. 11 May 2014.
There exists a group of people who live the final years of their lives in glass boxes. They are perfectly capable of seeing outside, but incapable of reaching out to the world around them. Their emotions can not be shown through facial expression, and as their condition continues, speech also becomes difficult or even impossible. These people are men and women of all races and geographical areas, constituting one percent of the world’s population over 50 years old. Parkinson disease is their affliction. Although Parkinsonism has been around almost as long as recorded history, there is yet to be found a cause or a cure. Medications tame the symptoms and prolong life, but are incapable of reversing the disease progression.. Diagnosis relies exclusively upon clinical signs and symptoms, because almost all laboratory and radiography tests are normal in the Parkinson patient. For this reason early diagnosis is very difficult. The fact that early signs of Parkinsonism can easily be overlooked as normal aging, further complicates diagnosis. Therefore, primary care physicians of the middle-aged and elderly population must be extremely sensitive to patients’ outward appearance and changes in movement ability.
...ry work, medical industry work and other areas that require steady and stable hand control. The Michael J. Fox Foundation website allows for people to post comments and I was touched by the strength that these individuals have. Jo Dee Biddle, who is a caregiver and loved one of Parkinson’s patient posted “If I have learned anything about PD in 28 years, it is to take things one day at a time. If it's a good day, seize the moment. If it's not, don't apologize.” I think that this is such an inspiring way to look at daily life with Parkinson’s. This attitude and approach will make the good days with this disease be even greater and the harder days easier to cope. There is much that is unknown about this disease, but there are many foundations and research efforts that support furthering the cause of research and continuous search for early diagnosis.
Parkinson’s disease, a chronic, progressive, and neurodegenerative brain disorder affecting body movement, known to have no cure, yet has treatments that will help in managing the disease. This disease is named after James Parkinson, an English physician who described this illness. Approximately one million people in the United States are diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease (What is Parkinson’s, n.d.). This disease is identified to be slow in progression and symptoms of this will only worsen as time goes on. Parkinson’s is the second most common neurodegenerative disease (Simpson, Murray, & Eccles, 2010).
PD is one of the most common neurodegenerative diseases that afflict about 1% of individuals over the age of 65 and its occurrence increases by age. Its symptoms are characterized typically by slow but progressive neurological and non-neurological disabilities such as tremor, memory problems, declining sense of smell, rigidity, drooling, and constipation. PD is also commonly associated with other psychiatric diseases e.g. depression, anxiety and psychosis.