April is Parkinson’s Awareness Month

Parkinson’s disease was first discovered by James Parkinson over 200 years ago.

To honor his discovery, April is Parkinson’s Disease Awareness Month, a nod to his birth month being April.

Parkinson’s Disease is a chronic neurological condition that causes a gradual loss of nerve cells in the brain that produce dopamine. Dopamine carries signals to the part of the brain that controls movement and coordination.

Understanding Parkinson’s

Fast Facts

• Over 1 million people in the U.S are currently living with Parkinson’s. Including an estimated 30,000 in North Carolina, ranking as the 10th most across States.
• It can be caused by a combination of environmental and genetic factors.
• Most people only think of the movement symptoms; however, non-movement symptoms are also prevalent.
• Symptoms can be managed through medications, lifestyle changes, exercise, and in some cases, surgery.
• The risk of developing symptoms increases with age, but on average, at age 60 is when symptoms start.

Early Signs

Parkinson’s can be difficult to diagnose or tell if a loved one has it. This is because symptoms develop slowly over the years and often differ from person to person. That being said, read below for several early signs of Parkinson’s, while no one individual sign means you have Parkinson’s, demonstrating multiple signs is a good sign to go see your doctor.

• Tremors, often in the hands or fingers
• Small handwriting
• Loss of smell
• Trouble sleeping
• Trouble moving, including stiffness and balance problems
• Constipation
• Soft or low voice
• Reducing facial expressions
• Dizziness or fainting
• Stooping or hunching

Managing Symptoms

There is currently no cure for Parkinson’s, however, there are many strategies for treating symptoms and managing your condition. Planning and finding the right mix of management strategies can help ease the effects of the disease. Thus, allowing you to continue to lead a fulfilling life. A few popular strategies for managing symptoms include:

Exercising weekly for 2.5 hours can help slow symptoms.

Medications focused on replenishing dopamine or mimicking dopamine.

Maintaining a healthy diet, including drinking a lot of water, eating fiber-heavy foods, and limiting sugar, alcohol, and caffeine, all help.

Progression of Symptoms

There are five stages of PD. In the first two stages, symptoms are mild and rarely interfere with ADLs. As stage 2 progresses and goes to stage 3, symptoms start to get worse, and falls may become more common. In the latter two stages, symptoms are fully developed, and constant care is needed.

Local Resources

• The Parkinson Association of the Carolinas offers virtual support groups.
• The Alamance County Community YMCA offers a Parkinson’s Support Group twice a month.
• Rock Steady Boxing’s mission is to equip their affiliates and empower coaches to improve the quality of life for people with Parkinson’s Disease through a non-contact, boxing-based fitness curriculum. They have a gym on South Church Street.

Griswold is here for you

If you or a loved one are living with Parkinson’s, a Griswold Caregiver can help support you in the comfort of your own home. We offer a variety of specialized home Care Services, including Respite Care, 24-hour care, or one of our Essential Care Services, including Companionship, Personal care, and Homemaking.

Contact Us

If you are living with Parkinson’s in Burlington, Elon, Mebane, or the surrounding area and need support to continue to age at home, give us a call today. We would be happy to put together a personalized care plan for you.