Six Tips for Dealing with Parkinsonâ€™s Disease - By: Carlo Morelli

That diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease can be frightening is certain. It’s a serious malady that, if left unchecked, can end in debilitating changes to one’s body. Nonetheless, advances in medical treatment in combination with some basic lifestyle changes can significantly lessen the impact of Parkinson’s disease.

Your diagnosing physician is always a valuable first resource. He or she can advise someone diagnosed with Parkinson’s about treatments and what to expect physiologicaly. Thanks to increased awareness brought about in part by actor Michael J. Fox’s disclosure that he lives with Parkinson’s and the subsequent creation of his foundation, and also due to new advances in stem cell research and other therapies, a lot of information about Parkinson’s disease is now available to the public.

Many countries have national associations with regional headquarters helping people with Parkinson’s.
Here is a list of six tips that will make living with Parkinson’s disease easier.

1. Exercise: Parkinson’s disease impacts your mobility, so it is important that people with Parkinson’s make certain their bodies are as strong and flexible as possible. Simple activities like stretching, walking, running, and swimming are ideal to build strength. If exercising by yourself doesn’t sound much fun, look into group classes, community walking clubs, or water-aerobics sessions. Many communities have low-cost facilities, equipment, space and instruction where necessary. Special classes which take particular conditions into consideration are also commonly available.

2. Diet: nutritional health is essential for strength and vitality no matter what your health situation. Through eating right, Parkinson’s patients can steady their energy and better control their weight, which can have a big effect on struggling muscles. Check with a physician to establish whether diet could have an adverse effect on medication. Case in point- high-protein foods may interfere with absorption of medications. Keeping a food journal can be an invaluable tool in pinpointing problems with medication.

3. Wardrobe: Parkinson’s reduces motor skills, which can make buttoning of shirts and pants, or doing up a bra difficult. Go for loose (but not flapping) clothing with elastic waists, pull-on shirts and dresses and a minimum of buttons, zippers, hooks and ties, as well as slip-on or Velcro-fastened shoes. This may not be required in the early stages of the disease, but will become important later on.

4. Compensating tactics: strategize about ways to overcome problems associated with Parkinson’s disease, like dropping things. For instance, Parkinson’s patients find they may often drop their wallets when fumbling for change.

To counteract this problem, buy a large wallet that is easy to grip and doesn’t send you digging into deep corners. Using a debit or credit card may be an easier alternative to searching for coins and bills. Another example of a helpful compensating strategy would be to switch from delicate porcelain tableware to more durable shatter-proof or plastic pieces.

5. Take naps: Parkinson’s can interfere with restorative sleep, even though many people who have the disease suffer from fatigue. Take a short nap a couple times a day to keep your energy up.

6. Be understanding: medical treatment and lifestyle changes can do a lot to minimize Parkinson’s symptoms, but it’s likely that people will notice things like tremors or tics at some point. Children, in particular, may ask blunt questions. Try not to be offended, and when possible, use it as a chance to educate about Parkinson’s and its effects.

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