Index
- What are the main consequences of Parkinson's disease?
- What you need to know about Parkinson's disease
- Definition
- Cause
- Symptoms
- Its consequences and complications
- The effects of the disease on the patient's spouse
- What you need to know about Parkinson's disease
What are the main consequences of Parkinson's disease?
Parkinson's disease is one of those conditions that are called neurodegenerative. After Alzheimer's disease, it ranks second in terms of prevalence among the elderly. By slowing down movement and causing trembling or stiffness of the muscles, this pathology makes the person suffering from it dependent on those around him or her. This pathology thus has an impact not only on the patient's quality of life, but also on that of his or her family and friends. In what follows, you will discover the main consequences of Parkinson's disease.
What you need to know about Parkinson's disease
Before looking at the impacts and complications that this neurodegenerative pathology can have, it is important to look at the basic information about it.
Definition
As noted earlier, Parkinson's disease is a neurodegenerative disease. It involves the progressive destruction of neurons in certain areas of the brain. This disease affects mostly people over the age of 50. It also affects men more than women. This may be due to the protective effect of female hormones, particularly estrogen.
Cause
Aside from age, heredity can also cause Parkinson's disease. The same is true for certain environmental factors such as significant exposure to chemicals such as pesticides or solvents.
Symptoms
Parkinson's disease progresses very differently from one individual to another. Also, a person's lifestyle and emotional state can affect the intensity of symptoms. But despite this, there are three very characteristic signs that allow us to recognize the pathology.
- Tremors are mainly observed at rest - this sign is present in only 2/3 of patients with this disease. In any case, this is the first sign observed in Parkinson's disease. These tremors mainly affect the hands and sometimes the legs and chin.
- The stiffness of the muscles that makes it difficult to perform certain movements - this muscle stiffness affects the way the subject walks. In fact, his arms no longer perform the swaying motion that is so characteristic of walking. This has the effect of compromising his balance. Some patients may also experience pain caused by stiffness in the neck muscle.
- Slower movement - also called bradykinesia, this slowness of movement causes the patient to blink less and makes them stare. The patient walks slowly and in small steps.
Apart from these three very characteristic signs, other symptoms may also occur. These include writing difficulties, difficulty swallowing, balance problems, sleep disturbances and changes in speech (with a relatively rapid rate of flow).
Its consequences and complications
This pathology can take several years to evolve. The complications and consequences of Parkinson's disease are above all the amplification of muscular rigidity and tremors. Apart from this, the patient is subject to the following health problems:
- Cognitive impairments
- Mood disorders
- Attention deficit disorder
- Memory impairment
- Depression
- Difficulty swallowing
- Confusion and disorientation in time and space
- Hallucinations
- Dementia
- Dysarthria or difficulties in articulating properly
Over the years, these complications increase and the patient becomes more and more dependent. Indeed, he can no longer perform the simplest gestures such as writing, brushing his teeth, tying his shoes, buttoning his jacket or putting on his clothes. This loss of autonomy can, in turn, reinforce certain symptoms such as depression. In any case, doctors suggest that Parkinson's disease does not significantly affect life expectancy.
The effects of the disease on the patient's spouse
Aside from the discomfort and deterioration of the patient's quality of life, the consequences of Parkinson's disease also affect those close to the patient, particularly the patient's spouse. Indeed, their daily life will revolve, most of the time, around the pathology. And this is true from the moment the diagnosis is announced. At this point, relief and shock are mixed, because we finally find explanations for the symptoms, but their lifestyle will change radically. The spouse is also subject to anxiety about the evolution of the disease.
The spouse's daily life will consist, for the most part, of caring for the sick person. In particular, when the illness worsens and a permanent presence is necessary. This type of situation can be very difficult to bear and can lead to depression. In any case, the spouse must succeed in not sacrificing everything for the patient. He or she must take time for him or her in order to maintain his or her health and well-being, and to have some freedom.
It can also happen that the spouse is overwhelmed by the patient's mood changes. But to better cope with the disease, he or she must learn as much as possible about Parkinson's disease so as not to be disarmed. If need be, the spouse can also get help from a psychologist to better accept the changes brought on by the pathology and not get overwhelmed.
