Question

A Parkinson's patient comes to the office where you are working as a patient educator. His wife believes that the problem is in his muscles. Explain to the patient and his wife what is really affected and why he has these symptoms.

Answer 1

ANSWER:

As a nurse educator, it is the responsibility of the nurse to make the patient and his wife understand about the Parkinson’s disease, how it affects, why it affects etc. So a proper explanation of the disease should be done to make them understand.

About Parkinson's disease:

Parkinson's disease is a progressive nervous system disorder that affects movement. Symptoms start gradually, sometimes starting with a barely noticeable tremor in just one hand. Tremors are common, but the disorder also commonly causes stiffness or slowing of movement. Parkinson's symptoms usually begin gradually and get worse over time.

Parkinson's disease signs and symptoms can be different for everyone. Early signs may be mild and go unnoticed. Symptoms often begin on one side of your body and usually remain worse on that side, even after symptoms begin to affect both sides.

Parkinson's signs and symptoms may include:

· Tremor. A tremor, or shaking, usually begins in a limb, often your hand or fingers. You may rub your thumb and forefinger back and forth, known as a pill-rolling tremor. Your hand may tremble when it's at rest.

· Slowed movement (bradykinesia).Parkinson's disease may slow your movement, making simple tasks difficult and time-consuming. Your steps may become shorter when you walk. It may be difficult to get out of a chair.

· Rigid muscles. Muscle stiffness may occur in any part of your body. The stiff muscles can be painful and limit your range of motion.

· Impaired posture and balance. Your posture may become stooped, or you may have balance problems as a result of Parkinson's disease.

· Loss of automatic movements. You may have a decreased ability to perform unconscious movements, including blinking, smiling or swinging your arms when you walk.

Explained to patient and wife what is causing the disease and how it affects:

In Parkinson's disease, certain nerve cells (neurons) in the brain gradually break down or die. Many of the symptoms are due to a loss of neurons that produce a chemical messenger in your brain called dopamine. When dopamine levels decrease, it causes abnormal brain activity, leading to impaired movement and other symptoms of Parkinson's disease.

The cause of Parkinson's disease is unknown, but several factors appear to play a role, including:

· Genes. Researchers have identified specific genetic mutations that can cause Parkinson's disease. But these are uncommon except in rare cases with many family members affected by Parkinson's disease.

However, certain gene variations appear to increase the risk of Parkinson's disease but with a relatively small risk of Parkinson's disease for each of these genetic markers.

· Environmental triggers. Exposure to certain toxins or environmental factors may increase the risk of later Parkinson's disease, but the risk is relatively small.

Researchers have also noted that many changes occur in the brains of people with Parkinson's disease, although it's not clear why these changes occur.

Risk factors for Parkinson's disease include:

· Age. Young adults rarely experience Parkinson's disease. It ordinarily begins in middle or late life, and the risk increases with age. People usually develop the disease around age 60 or older.

· Heredity. Having a close relative with Parkinson's disease increases the chances that you'll develop the disease..

· Sex. Men are more likely to develop Parkinson's disease than are women.

· Exposure to toxins. Ongoing exposure to herbicides and pesticides may slightly increase your risk of Parkinson's disease.

Explain to the patient and wife why he has these symptoms of impaired movements:

Parkinson's disease is a type of central nervous system disorder that affects your movement, causing symptoms such as tremors, slowness, stiffness, and more. These involuntary movements begin, in part, in the brain, where the production of dopamine (the neurotransmitter that controls movement) is impaired.

Symptoms are due to a loss of neurons that produce a chemical messenger in your brain called dopamine. When dopamine levels decrease, it causes abnormal brain activity, leading to impaired movement and other symptoms of Parkinson's disease.

Dopamine sends signals to the part of your brain that controls movement. It lets your muscles move smoothly and do what you want them to do. When you have Parkinson's, these nerve cells break down. Then you no longer have enough dopamine, and you have trouble moving the way you want to.