How to Live With Parkinsons Disease

Parkinsons is a disease of the central nervous system that occurs primarily in older adults. It's a progressive condition that affects the area of the brain that controls the body's movement. Muscles become stiff and patients experience tremors and fatigue. It's considered incurable, but there are treatments available to relieve and control symptoms. Since the disease doesn't significantly reduce life expectancy, learning how to live with Parkinsons is important for patients and their families.

Instructions

1. Seek counseling to help relieve depression. Some medications used to treat the disease can cause depression. It's also easy to get frustrated with the physical limitations caused by Parkinsons. The two together can take a toll on a patient's emotional health.

2. Stick to the treatment program recommended by your doctor. Diet, exercise and medications all play an important role in helping maintain normal activities.

3. Wear a medic-alert bracelet that indicates your condition. If you find yourself in a medical emergency, it's crucial that anyone treating you knows you have Parkinsons. It will affect how they handle you and what medications they prescribe.

4. Engage in occupational therapy to help you cope with your condition. You will find you can still perform most daily tasks yourself, you'll just have to go about them in a different way.

5. Accident-proof your home to prevent falls and injuries. Install grab bars and invest in an electric bed that raises and lowers easily. You should also make sure you have phones in every room along with emergency numbers for fire, police and medical personnel.

Tips & Warnings

• Educate yourself as much as you can about Parkinsons. You need to understand the disease and make your own decisions regarding treatment and activities. Don't let other people decide things for you leaving you feeling unempowered.