Parkinson's disease: symptoms, causes, treatment and prognosis

Symptoms that show a high degree of certainty are:

• general stiffness( muscle rigidity);
• tremor of the upper extremities( tremor of rest);
• difficulty walking( hypokinesia);
• characteristic stooping posture;
• finger movements as in the conversion of coins;
• problems with coordination of movements( postural instability).

Note: The concept of "parkinsonism" combines a whole group of pathologies that are characterized by the above symptoms. Among the cases of parkinsonism, the share of Parkinson's own disease accounts for about 70-80% of cases.

The disease is often complicated by other pathologies, which lead to death.Clinical manifestations develop with the death of 60-80% of nerve cells of a black substance.Symptoms are progressive.

Causes of Parkinson's Disease

Parkinson's disease is classified as idiopathic diseases - ailments whose emergence and development are not fully understood.

All symptoms of Parkinson's disease are caused by a violation of biosynthesis and ejection of the neurotransmitter - dopamine.Due to this unique connection in the central nervous system, nerve impulses are transmitted.Deficiency of dopamine leads to pronounced disorders in those areas of the brain that are responsible for motor functions.

It is believed that there is a genetic( family) predisposition to Parkinson's disease.The genes responsible for the development of the disease are not yet identified.

Experts believe that, in addition to genetic predisposition, some exogenous factors play a significant role.As one of the etiological factors is called cerebral circulatory insufficiency, which provokes extrapyramidal side effects.

Important: individual clinical manifestations characteristic of pathology may be due to poisoning with neurotoxins, atherosclerotic lesions of cerebral blood vessels, as well as encephalitis and uncontrolled intake of certain pharmacological agents.

According to the "oxidative hypothesis", free radicals, which are products of dopamine metabolism, are of great importance in the progression of this neurodegenerative disease.Oxidation is promoted by compounds acting as an electron donor.In addition, hydrogen peroxide is produced under the action of monoamine oxidase.If H2O2 is not conjugated to glutathione, then aggressive hydroxyl radicals accumulate, causing cell death due to peroxide oxidation of lipid compounds.

The cause of Parkinson's disease can also be endotoxins, which are formed with dysfunction of the liver and / or kidneys.

There is a version according to which the etiological factor is vitamin D deficiency.

According to another theory, neuronal degeneration is a consequence of mitochondrial mutations.

As one of the possible causes are frequent craniocerebral trauma.In favor of this theory says Parkinson's disease in the great boxer Mohammed Ali.

In a healthy person, the extrapyramidal system sends pulses to peripheral nerve cells, thereby providing a myostatic.From the activity of the central nervous system, the ability to achieve optimal tonus of various musculature departments directly depends.

Specificity of symptoms of pathology depends on which part of the extrapyramidal system affected the disease.If there is a pronounced inhibitory effect of the striatum, hypokinesia develops.With hypofunction of this structure, hyperkinesis develops - involuntary movements.

Development of the disease

The first stages of Parkinson's disease usually go unnoticed.In rare cases, others pay attention to some inhibition of movements and less expressive facial expressions.

As the pathology progresses, in the next stage of Parkinson's the patient himself draws attention that it is difficult for him to perform some subtle movements.Gradually, the handwriting changes, down to serious difficulties in writing.It becomes difficult to conduct ordinary hygiene procedures( brushing your teeth, shaving).Over time, facial expressions become so impoverished that the face becomes masklike.In addition, noticeably violated speech.

Note: is interesting that a patient who can hardly walk without assistance can suddenly run up the stairs or begin to dance.With a quick run, the patient is unable to stop himself until he comes across an obstacle.As progression becomes problematic, even the usual turns in bed, and deterioration of the motility of the pharyngeal muscles leads to drooling.

Diagnosis

If the first symptoms that may indicate the development of Parkinson's syndrome, you need to immediately seek help from a neuropathologist.The earlier the treatment is started, the more favorable the Parkinson's prognosis will be.

Important: among neurodegenerative pathologies Parkinson's disease ranks second after Alzheimer's disease.

One of the most important and most informative diagnostic procedures is electromyography.The technique makes it possible to identify the true cause of limb trembling and to perform differential diagnostics with certain musculoskeletal lesions.

Objectively evaluate the activity of the brain allows electroencephalography.

Histologically, a reliable sign of Parkinson's disease is the presence of pathological protein formations within neurons - Levy bodies.

Treatment of Parkinson's disease

The basic drug that can inhibit the development of Parkinson's syndrome is Levodopa.It should be noted that the drug has a number of side effects.Prior to the clinical practice of this drug, the only significant treatment was the destruction of the basal nuclei.

Several groups of agents have been developed that show greater or lesser efficacy in this pathology.As a rule, they are prescribed in parallel with Levodopa as part of complex therapy.

Currently, experiments are underway to transplant the patient to healthy cells producing dopamine.Stimulation of deep CNS structures was considered as one of the possible methods of treatment of Parkinson's disease in the late 80s of the last century.

Treatment of Parkinson's Disease with folk remedies

Important : without medication can not do without the patient.Methods of traditional medicine in Parkinson's disease will only slightly ease his condition.Before using any of the drugs in this category, you should consult your doctor!

There are a number of folk methods for treating Parkinson's disease.

1. Patients often suffer from sleep disorders;They can wake up repeatedly during the night and walk around the room in a sleepy state.At the same time they run into furniture and can cause serious injuries.Therefore, a patient suffering from Parkinson's disease should create an extremely comfortable environment for an overnight rest.
2. Beneficial effect on the condition of patients hot baths;They reduce tremors and relieve spasms of the musculature.In the bath water, it is advisable to add broths of medicinal herbs such as sage, St. John's wort, and chamomile.Effective is also a lime color.
3. The patient will be helped by foot baths with decoction of the fern.To prepare the broth you need to take 5 tbsp.L.Dry rhizomes, pour 5 liters of water and boil for at least 2 hours.Cool the broth and prepare a foot bath.
4. Inside it is advisable to take a decoction of equal parts of hemlock and goose eye with goose.Broth( 200 ml of boiling water for 4 tablespoons of plant raw materials) must be infused overnight.Take 100 ml 4 times a day before meals.
5. P In case of Parkinson's disease, fresh juice of feijoa and infusion of equal parts of oregano, porcelain, lavender and snakehead are also helping.Drink one-third glass before eating three times a day.
6. To reduce the clinical manifestations will help a mixture of freshly squeezed leaves of plantain, nettle and celery.
7. Pharmacy tincture of peony is recommended to take 30-40 drops 3 times daily before meals.
8. You can prepare your own herbal infusion by mixing 2 parts of thyme and lemon balm and 1 part of oregano, mint and motherwort.1 tbsp.L.Mixture should be poured 200 ml of boiling water and insist in a thermos, then cool, strain and drink 100 ml in the morning and evening hours.
9. Herbal teas are prepared from lime flowers, chamomile, sage or thyme.Plants should be taken separately, adding to 1 tbsp.L.Substrate 1 tsp.Dry herb Leonurus for sedation.At 2 tbsp.L.Of the medicinal plant take 500 ml of boiling water and insist in the dishes, wrapped in a towel.
10. To strengthen human immunity with Parkinsonism, it is advisable to prepare garlic-lemon oil.The whole head of garlic should be crushed and pour 200 ml of olive oil.Olive oil can be replaced with refined sunflower oil.The mixture must be insisted throughout the day, periodically shaking.Then add one lemon juice to the butter.The drug should be kept in the refrigerator.Take inside for 1 tsp.Course in 3 months, after which you need a break in 1 month, after which the course should be repeated.

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