Suzanne Irwin, MA, Marketing Liaison, HealthSouth Nittany Valley Rehabilitation Hospital
There are an estimated 7 to 10 million people, worldwide, living with Parkinson’s disease (PD). According to the Parkinson’s Disease Foundation, in the United States, as many as one million people live with PD. That’s more than the combined number of people with multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy, and Lou Gehrig’s disease. Approximately 60,000 Americans are diagnosed with PD each year; this does not reflect the thousands of cases that go undetected.
Parkinson’s disease is a degenerative and progressive disease of the central nervous system. This motor system disorder is caused by the loss of dopamine produced by the brain. Symptoms are chronic, persisting over a long period of time with progressive symptoms worsening over time. The average age at which someone is diagnosed with PD is 60. Unfortunately, there is no cure for Parkinson’s disease at this time. However, many symptoms of PD can be treated, and researchers are making advances in understanding the disease and how to treat it.
Every person with PD has different needs. The goal of treatment is to help patients manage their symptoms and to function as normally as possible, with as few side effects as possible. Finding the right physician is important. Treatment requires a team approach involving the patient, the family, the physician and other healthcare professionals. There are many medications available; choices often depend on the side effects and tolerance of PD patients.
A multi-disciplinary team approach to health care benefits the PD patient at any stage. Physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, and nutrition counseling can all be beneficial. Physical therapy can help improve flexibility, mobility, muscle strength, exercise tolerance and balance. Physical therapists can teach techniques for coping with freezing and avoiding falls. Assistive devices such as canes and walkers can also be provided.
Occupational therapy can help the person with PD learn alternative methods of performing daily tasks such as dressing and eating. Occupational therapists can also evaluate a home and give suggestions about how to make it safer and easier to navigate. Speech therapy can provide vocal training programs that can be customized to the PD patient’s needs. Speech therapists are also skilled in evaluating and treating swallowing difficulties in PD.
Parkinson’s Symptoms include:
Changes in speech – talking slower or faster, slurred words, hesitating or repeating words; Difficulty swallowing;
Dementia – may have problems with memory or mental clarity in later stages;
Impaired posture and balance;
Loss of automatic movements – blinking, smiling, blank stare, no animation in speech;
Shuffling gait;
Slow movement and muscle rigidity;
Tremors;
Constipation;
Depression;
Fall injuries;
Sleep problems; and
Urinary problems.
Managing Parkinson’s Disease
Use physical therapy to help improve mobility, range of motion and muscle tone.
Eat a nutritionally balanced diet.
Improve talking and swallowing issues with speech therapy.
Keep follow-up appointments with physician.
Keep environment free of possible hazards such as throw rugs, cords, clutter, etc.
Maintain support groups.
Take prescribed medications that increase the brain’s dopamine supply to improve walking, movement and tremors.
Use occupational therapy to improve activities of daily living such as dressing, bathing and grooming.
Reference: The Parkinson’s Disease Foundation, visit www.pdf.org.
HealthSouth Nittany Valley Rehabilitation Hospital in Pleasant Gap has a specialized inpatient rehabilitation program for individuals with Parkinson’s disease, as well as three outpatient clinics. A multi-disciplinary team approach helps the PD patient through physical, occupational and speech therapy. The team also provides medication management, nutrition counseling, and psychology services. HealthSouth Nittany Valley is pursuing accreditation for its Parkinson’s program from the Joint Commission on Accreditation for Healthcare Organizations. For more information, call HealthSouth Nittany Valley Rehabilitation Hospital at (814) 359-3421.
The Women’s Health Task Force is a small group volunteering their time to educate women and families on important health issues. If you have an interest in health, work in a caring profession, or just want to volunteer with other sincere women, consider attending our monthly planning meetings. These meetings are held the first Thursday of each month beginning at noon. The next meeting will be held April 5, in the Multi-Purpose Room of the Clearfield County Career and Technology Center, 1620 River Road in Clearfield. All interested persons are encouraged to attend. Additional information is available by calling Andrea Bressler, Penn State Extension, at 765-7878.