Why Parkinson’s Awareness Matters
April is World’s Parkinson’s disease Awareness Month, and Abarca goes #allin to bring support and awareness to this condition. Today, Parkinson’s Disease affects one million people in the U.S alone and studies show these numbers will rise to 1.2 million by 2030. Together we can improve the quality of life of people living with the condition by spreading awareness and better care.
What is Parkinson’s disease?
According to Mayo Clinic, “Parkinson’s disease is a progressive nervous system disorder that affects movement. Symptoms start gradually, from barely noticeable tremors in just one hand. Tremors are common, but the disorder also commonly causes stiffness or slowing of movement.” Parkinson’s may not be visible on one’s face; however, a person’s arms might become stiff when walking and they may have a hard time talking, as well as experience slurred speech. These conditions can often advance with time. There might not be a cure yet, but medication and other treatments can help certain regions of the brain and lessen symptoms.
Every person is different and might have various diverse symptoms. The effects can go unnoticed and sometimes be very drastic on one or both sides of the body.
The most common symptoms of Parkinson’s are:
- Tremors
- Rigid/stiff muscles
- Loss of control of automatic movements
- Writing challenges
- Impaired balance and coordination
What causes Parkinson’s?
Doctors and researchers are still trying to understand what causes Parkinson’s and what causes specific neurons to die in a person’s brain. The nerve cells and neurons that produce dopamine start producing less, which causes movement issues. The disease occurs when the basal ganglia’s nerves (the area in the brain that control’s a person’s muscle movement) die and/or become impaired. People with Parkinson’s also lose nerve endings that produce norepinephrine causing fatigue, blood pressure issues, etc.
Parkinson’s can also be caused by genetic mutations, hereditary and genetic factors, toxins in the environment, and in some cases, lewy bodies.
Treatments for Parkinson’s:
There is no standard treatment for Parkinson’s disease (PD). Treatment for each person with Parkinson’s is based on his or her symptoms and can include certain medication and surgical therapy. Read more about treatment options here. Other treatments include lifestyle modifications, like getting more rest and exercise.
According to Hopkins Medicine, you can also treat your symptoms with certain lifestyle modifications (like getting more rest and exercise) and non-traditional therapies such as:
- Tai-Chi – The resistance and stretching training can improve a person’s balance and stability.
- Yoga – Can help increase balance, mobility, flexibility, plus mental health.
- Acupuncture – This Chinese practice can stimulate the body’s energy paths, helps with pain, and can have other positive effects.
- Other therapies include occupational therapy, supplements, life changes, and exercise.
- Medical marijuana – Cannabis can help with pain relief, better sleep, improved mood, muscle relaxation, and so much more!
Join Abarca in bringing awareness and resources to those affected by Parkinson’s disease. If you or a loved one has Parkinson’s, please visit https://www.parkinson.org/ to learn more about the condition and explore the support services available.
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*Blog post written by Michelle Morales Clinical Service Support Manager at Abarca Health.
About Abarca Health
At Abarca, we believe in an Unstoppable Drive for a Better Way. Our commitment to making healthcare seamless and personalized for all drives us to innovate in AI, specialty pharmacy, and predictive analytics. By transforming challenges into opportunities, we deliver PBM like no one else: better patient outcomes and an overall revolutionary healthcare experience. Join us in shaping the future at the intersection of technology and care!